Film image signal generation apparatus

ABSTRACT

A film image signal generation apparatus, includes: a film displacement device which displaces a developed film which has a magnetic recording layer to an image area; an image signal conversion device which converts an image of a film frame which is opposed to the image area into a first image signal; a magnetic writing device which rewrites old data written in the magnetic recording layer of the film into new data; a data storage circuit which stores the old data and the new data; an image signal generation circuit which generates a second image signal which shows data change information, based upon the old data and the new data which are stored by the data storage circuit; and a control circuit which controls the magnetic writing device, the data storage circuit, and the film displacement device so as to rewrite the old data which is recorded upon the magnetic recording layer into the new data which is stored in the storage circuit, and controls the image signal conversion device and the image signal generation circuit so as to output the second image signal at a predetermined time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a film image signal generationapparatus which converts images which have been photographed upon aphotographic film which has a magnetic recording layer into an imagesignal such as a video signal or the like, and which outputs this imagesignal.

2. Description of the Related Art

As apparatuses for converting an image upon a photographic film whichhas been developed into an image signal such as a video signal or thelike and then outputting this signal, there are disclosed (in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,482,924, 4,485,406, and 4,506,300) apparatuses which output animage on a film as a video signal which has been shot by using a CCDcamera. If this output signal is then input into a video monitor, it ispossible to view the image on the film upon the screen of the monitor.Further, it is possible to edit the image onto a video tape, or tooutput it using a video printer or the like. With such apparatuses, thefilm is stretched out so as to lie flat and is fitted into a holder, andthen is manually slid so that the position of the film frame is matchedwith the image frame of the CCD camera. Accordingly, it is necessary toadjust the position of the film by moving the holder while watching theimage on the monitor, and as shown in FIG. 35 the frames upon the filmare imaged while it is being slid and are output just as they stand asimages upon the monitor.

However, it is troublesome for the operator to be required to adjust thefilm to the predetermined imaging position while watching the imageprojected upon the monitor from the film in this manner, and moreoverthe image on the film can be quite difficult to see when it is thusbeing projected upon the monitor just as it stands during the slidingprocess.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to propose a film image signalgeneration apparatus which only outputs the image signals which arerequired when altering data in the magnetic recording layer of thephotographic film, and which does not output any signals for imageswhich are not required. In order to attain this object, a film imagesignal generation apparatus according to the present invention,comprises: a film displacement device which displaces a developed filmwhich has a magnetic recording layer to an image area; an image signalconversion device which converts an image of a film frame which isopposed to the image area into a first image signal; a magnetic writingdevice which rewrites old data written in the magnetic recording layerof the film into new data; a data storage circuit which stores the olddata and the new data; an image signal generation circuit whichgenerates a second image signal which shows data change information,based upon the old data and the new data which are stored by the datastorage circuit; and a control circuit which controls the magneticwriting device, the data storage circuit, and the film displacementdevice so as to rewrite the old data which is recorded upon the magneticrecording layer into the new data which is stored in the storagecircuit, and controls the image signal conversion device and the imagesignal generation circuit so as to output the second image signal at apredetermined time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the overall structure of thepreferred embodiment of the film image signal generation apparatus ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a portion of the operational sequence ofthis preferred embodiment of the film image signal generation apparatusof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 30 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 32 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 34 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 35 is a figure relating to a prior art film image signal generationapparatus, showing a sequence of images which are displayed upon amonitor during film frame forwarding, with (a) illustrating the displayof a predecessor film frame, (b) illustrating the display between thispredecessor film frame and a successor film frame, and (c) illustratingthe display of this successor film frame;

FIG. 36 is a similar figure but relating to the preferred embodiment ofthe film image signal generation apparatus of the present invention,showing a sequence of images which are displayed in a screen displaymode (A) upon a monitor during film frame forwarding, with (a)illustrating the display of a predecessor film frame, (b) illustratingthe display between this predecessor film frame and a successor filmframe, and (c) illustrating the display of this successor film frame;

FIG. 37 is a similar figure relating to the preferred embodiment of thefilm image signal generation apparatus of the present inventions showinga sequence of images which are displayed in another screen display mode(B) upon a monitor during film frame forwarding, with (a) illustratingthe display of a predecessor film frame, (b) illustrating the displaybetween this predecessor film frame and a successor film frame, and (c)illustrating the display of this successor film frame;

FIG. 38 is a similar figure relating to the preferred embodiment of thefilm image signal generation apparatus of the present invention, showinga sequence of images which are displayed in another screen display mode(C) upon a monitor during film frame forwarding, with (a) illustratingthe display of a predecessor film frame, (b) illustrating the displaybetween this predecessor film frame and a successor film frame, and (c)illustrating the display of this successor film frame;

FIGS. 39 is a similar figure relating to the preferred embodiment of thefilm image signal generation apparatus of the present invention, showinga sequence of images which are displayed in another screen display mode(D) upon a monitor during film frame forwarding, with (a) illustratingthe display of a predecessor film frame, (b) illustrating the displaybetween this predecessor film frame and a successor film frame, and (c)illustrating the display of this successor film frame;

FIG. 40 is a similar figure relating to the preferred embodiment of thefilm image signal generation apparatus of the present invention, showinga sequence of images which are displayed in another screen display mode(E) upon a monitor during film frame forwarding, with (a) illustratingthe display of a predecessor film frame, (b) illustrating the displaybetween this predecessor film frame and a successor film frame, and (c)illustrating the display of this successor film frame;

FIG. 41 is a similar figure relating to the preferred embodiment of thefilm image signal generation apparatus of the present invention, showinga sequence of images which are displayed in another screen display mode(F) upon a monitor during film frame forwarding, with (a) illustratingthe display of a predecessor film frame, (b) illustrating the displaybetween this predecessor film frame and a successor film frame, and (c)illustrating the display of this successor film frame;

FIG. 42 is a similar figure relating to the preferred embodiment of thefilm image signal generation apparatus of the present invention, showinga sequence of images which are displayed in another screen display mode(G) upon a monitor during film frame forwarding, with (a) illustratingthe display of a predecessor film frame, (b) illustrating the displaybetween this predecessor film frame and a successor film frame, and (c)illustrating the display of this successor film frame;

FIG. 43 is a figure relating to the preferred embodiment of the filmimage signal generation apparatus of the present invention, showing inorder a sequence of images which are displayed in another screen displaymode (I) upon a monitor so as to provide a story, with (a) illustratingthe display of the title of the story, (b) illustrating a display fornarration continuing on from the title display of (a), (c) illustratingthe display of a film frame following on from the narration of (b), (d)illustrating another display for narration continuing on from the filmframe display of (c), (e) illustrating the display of the next filmframe following on from the narration of (d), (f) illustrating anotherdisplay for narration continuing on from the film frame display of (e),and (g) illustrating the display of the next film frame following onfrom the narration of (f);

FIG. 44 is a figure relating to the preferred embodiment of the filmimage signal generation apparatus of the present invention, showing adisplay on a monitor screen for informing the user for which framesrewriting of the magnetic information is to be performed, with (a)illustrating the case of another screen display mode (J) in which onlythe frame numbers of the frames for which rewriting of the magneticinformation is to be performed are displayed, (b) illustrating the caseof another screen display mode (K) in which a matrix showing all thefilm frame numbers is displayed with the frame numbers of the frames forwhich rewriting of the magnetic information is to be performed beingshown as flashing, (c) illustrating the case of another screen displaymode (L) in which a matrix showing film frame numbers and film framethumbnail illustrations is displayed with the thumbnail illustrations ofthe frames for which rewriting of the magnetic information is to beperformed being shown as flashing, and (d) illustrating the case ofanother screen display mode (M) in which the frame numbers of the framesfor which rewriting of the magnetic information is to be performed andthe contents of the magnetic information before and after such rewritingare displayed;

FIG. 45 is a figure relating to the preferred embodiment of the signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention, showing a display on amonitor screen in another screen display mode (N) for informing the userfor which frames rewriting of the magnetic information is to beperformed, with (a) illustrating the display which is provided duringdisplacement of the film in order to bring the next film frame for whichrewriting of the magnetic information is to be performed (exemplarilyfilm frame No. 17) to oppose the image area, in which the frame numbersof the remaining film frames for which rewriting of the magneticinformation remains to be done, only, and the contents of their magneticinformation before and after such rewriting, are shown, (b) illustratingthe display which is provided just before rewriting of the magneticinformation for this film frame No. 17, in which an image of the filmframe just before rewriting of its magnetic information and the magneticinformation which is to be rewritten are shown as a superimposeddisplay, and (c) illustrating the display which is provided after thedisplay (b) during the subsequent displacement of the film in order tobring the next film frame for which rewriting of the magneticinformation is to be performed to oppose the image area, in which theframe numbers of the remaining film frames for which rewriting of themagnetic information remains to be done, only, and the contents of theirmagnetic information before and after such rewriting, are shown;

FIG. 46 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 47 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 48 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 49 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 50 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 51 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention; and:

FIG. 52 is another flow chart showing another portion of the operationalsequence of this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following, the preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention will be explained withreference to FIGS. 1 through 45. As shown in FIG. 1, a film F which hasbeen projected from a film cartridge 1 which has been loaded into theapparatus reaches a take up spool 3 and is wound up thereupon. Adetection switch 2 which is provided near the film cartridge 1 is driventogether with a display mechanism which displays whether or not the filmF provided in the film cartridge 1 is a developed one, and thusdetermines whether or not this film F has been developed. A rewind motor4 projects the film F from the film cartridge 1 or rewinds it backthereinto by rotationally driving a film cartridge shaft which is notshown in the drawing. A wind on motor 5 winds up the film F as it isthus projected, by rotationally driving a spool shaft, which also is notshown in the drawing, of the take up spool 3. A film encoder 6 which isprovided in the vicinity of the film cartridge 1 so as to contact thefilm F comprises a rotating member which is rotated together with thedisplacement of the film, and thereby the speed of displacement of thefilm F, and its amount of displacement, are measured. A magnetic head 7is fitted so as to be capable of being contacted with the film F, and amagnetic read circuit 17 and a magnetic write circuit 18 are connectedto this magnetic head 7, so as to be able to read magnetic informationwhich is recorded in a magnetic recording layer provided upon the film Fand also to write the information upon the film F. A pair ofphotointerruptors 8 are provided for detecting perforations in the filmF.

An aperture 9 and a diffusion plate 10 are provided between the abovedescribed pair of photointerruptors 8, and the film F which is fed outof the film cartridge 1 is held in a planar state between this aperture9 and this diffusion plate 10. Further, the diffusion plate 10 convertsthe light from an illumination light source 11 into white colored light,and this white colored light is regulated by the aperture 9 to an imagearea 12, and passes through the portion of the film F confronting theimage area 12. This transmitted light then passes through a focusinglens 13 and is incident upon a CCD 14, so that an image of the imagearea 12 on the film F is focused upon this CCD 14. This optical image isconverted by the CCD 14 into an output signal which is then converted byan imaging circuit 15 into a picture signal S1. This picture signal S1is then further processed by an image control circuit 16, and is outputto a monitor 29 as a picture signal S from this film image signalgeneration apparatus. And the monitor 29 displays an image whichcorresponds to the picture signal S. A home TV set, a CRT monitor, aliquid crystal display device or the like may be employed as the monitor29.

The detection switch 2, the film encoder 6, the photointerruptors 8, theimaging circuit 15, and the image control circuit 16 are all connectedto a CPU 21. Further, the rewind motor 4 and the wind on motor 5 areconnected to this CPU 21 via a motor control circuit 22, theillumination light source 11 is connected to the CPU 21 via anillumination control circuit 25, and the lens 13 is connected to the CPU21 via an autofocus-zoom control circuit 26.

An information input device 27, which comprises a group of controlswitches and a group of information input keys, is also connected to theCPU 21. This information input device 27 comprises a switch (orswitches; the details are optional and not shown in the figure) forsetting a film displacement mode, a switch for setting an image displaymode, a thrusting switch for commanding the start of projection of thefilm F, a single frame rewind switch, a single frame advance switch, anall frames rewind switch, a film cartridge eject switch, and a framedesignation switch. Moreover, an information storage device 28 isconnected to the CPU 21, and stores magnetic information from the filmF, information which has been input via the information input device 27,images taken from the film F, and the like.

This film image signal generation apparatus has the following filmdisplacement modes, of which any one may be selected at will by theoperator. In the film displacement mode A, when a film cartridge 1 isloaded, the film F therein is wound on forwards until the last framethereon confronts the image area 12, and the image of the last filmframe and the magnetic information corresponding thereto are combined bythe image control circuit 16 and are output as the picture signal S.Further, during this winding on process the magnetic information for allof the film frames is read out, and this information is stored in theinformation storage device 28. Thereafter, operation of this deviceproceeds according to the commands issued by the operator.

In the film displacement mode B, when a film cartridge 1 is loaded, thefilm F therein is wound on forwards until the first frame thereonconfronts the image area 12, and the image of the first film frame andthe magnetic information corresponding thereto are combined by the imagecontrol circuit 16 and are output as the picture signal S. Further,during this winding on process the magnetic information for the firstfilm frame is read out, and this information is stored in theinformation storage device 28. Thereafter, operation of this deviceproceeds according to the commands issued by the operator.

In the film displacement mode C, when a film cartridge 1 is loaded, thefilm F therein is wound on forwards until a specified frame thereonconfronts the image area 12, and the image of this specified film frameand the magnetic information corresponding thereto are combined by theimage control circuit 16 and are output as the picture signal S.Further, during this winding on process the magnetic information forthis specified film frame is read out, and this information is stored inthe information storage device 28. Thereafter, operation of this deviceproceeds according to the commands issued by the operator.

In the film displacement mode D, when a film cartridge 1 is loaded, thenthe film F therein is wound on forwards until the first frame thereonconfronts the image area 12 and temporarily the winding on operation isinterrupted, and then after a predetermined time interval the winding onof the film F is recommenced and the film F is wound on to the next filmframe; and this process is repeated in order for each film frame fromthe first to the last. Thereby, repeatedly from the first film frame tothe last, in order, each image upon the film F and the magneticinformation corresponding thereto are combined by the image controlcircuit 16 and are output as the picture signal S for this predeterminedtime interval. Further, the magnetic information for all of the framesupon the film F is read out during this winding on process, and thisinformation is stored in the information storage device 28.

The film displacement mode E is a story mode, in which a story iscomposed and is replayed. When the story is being composed, each imageupon the film F and the magnetic information corresponding thereto aredisplayed upon the monitor 29 in order from the first film frame to thelast, and the operator inputs narration, display order, and display timefor each film frame as it is displayed. This narration and otherinformation is recorded in the information storage device 28. When thestory is to be replayed, the film frames and the narration respectivelycorresponding thereto are displayed upon the monitor 29 for thespecified time periods in the specified order.

In the film displacement mode F, a group of film frame is selected basedupon the information which is recorded in the magnetic recording layerupon the film F or the film cartridge 1, and then the selected filmframes are displayed in order upon the monitor 29.

In a step displacement mode, for a plurality of film frames for which amutual relationship has been established the film F is wound on forwardsuntil each frame confronts the image area 12 and temporarily the windingon operation is interrupted, and then after a predetermined timeinterval the winding on of the film F is recommenced and the film F iswound on; and this process is repeated, so that each image upon the filmF and the magnetic information corresponding thereto in order from thefirst film frame to the last are output as the picture signal S for thispredetermined time interval. Further, the magnetic information for allof the frames upon the film F is read out during this winding onprocess, and this information is stored in the information storagedevice 28.

And, in a frame designation mode, the film F therein is wound onforwards until a specified frame thereon confronts the image area 12,and the image of this specified film frame and the magnetic informationcorresponding thereto are combined by the image control circuit 16 andare output as the picture signal S. Further, during this winding onprocess the magnetic information for this specified film frame is readout, and this information is stored in the information storage device28.

In the following, the overall operational sequence of this film imagesignal generation apparatus will be explained with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the first step S301 of FIG. 2, thesystem waits in a loop until a film cartridge 1 is loaded into theapparatus, then proceeding to the next step S302. In this step S302, acartridge ID which is written upon the film cartridge 1 is read in by aread in sensor which is not shown in the figures, and in the next stepS303 this is stored in the information storage device 28. Then in thestep S304 a decision is taken as to whether or not the thrusting switchis being pressed or not, and if it is being pressed then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S305, while if it is decided that thethrusting switch is not being pressed then the flow of control istransferred to the step S312.

In the step S305, a decision is taken as to whether or not the filmdisplacement mode A is the one currently selected, and if so then theflow of control is transferred to the step S401 of the FIG. 4 flowchart, while if the currently selected film displacement mode is not thefilm displacement mode A then the flow of control proceeds to the stepS306. In the step S306, similarly, a decision is taken as to whether ornot the film displacement mode B is the one currently selected, and ifso then the flow of control is transferred to the step S307, while ifthe currently selected film displacement mode is not the filmdisplacement mode B then the flow of control proceeds to the step S308of the FIG. 3 flow chart. In the step S307, the value of a variable M isset to zero, and then the flow of control is transferred to the stepS501 of the FIGS. 6 flow chart. In the step S308, similarly, a decisionis taken as to whether or not the film displacement mode C is the onecurrently selected, and if so then the flow of control is transferred tothe step S601 of the FIG. 8 flow chart, while if the currently selectedfilm displacement mode is not the film displacement mode C then the flowof control proceeds to the step S309. In the step S309, similarly, adecision is taken as to whether or not the film displacement mode D isthe one currently selected, and if so then the flow of control istransferred to the step S310, while if the currently selected filmdisplacement mode is not the film displacement mode D then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S311. In the step S310, the value of thevariable M is set to one, and then the flow of control is transferred tothe step S501 of the FIG. 6 flow chart. Similarly, in the step S311, adecision is taken as to whether or not the film displacement mode E isthe one currently selected, and if so then the flow of control istransferred to the step S1604 of the FIG. 27 flow chart, while if thecurrently selected film displacement mode is not the film displacementmode E then the flow of control proceeds to the step S312. In this stepS312, a decision is taken as to whether or not the film cartridge ejectswitch is being pressed and if so then the film cartridge is ejected andthis sequence terminates, while if on the other hand the film cartridgeeject switch is not being pressed then the flow of control loops back tothe step S304 of the FIG. 2 flow chart. In this manner, it is determinedwhich of the film displacement modes A through E is currently selected,and the flow of control is transferred to an appropriate point of thecontrol program.

Film Displacement Mode A

When it is detected in the step S305 of the FIG. 2 flow chart that thefilm displacement mode A is selected, the flow of control follows theflow charts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In the first step S401 the rewindmotor 4 and the wind on motor 5 are operated so as to start the windingon of the film F, and in the next step S402 the reading out of magneticinformation from the film F by the magnetic head 7 and by the magneticread circuit 17 is commenced. Next in the step S403 the magneticinformation which has been read out in the previous step S402 is storedin the information storage device 28.

In the next step S404 a decision is taken as to whether or not thescreen display mode which is currently selected is the (D) screendisplay mode, and if in fact the (D) screen display mode is currentlyselected then the flow of control proceeds to the step S405, while ifnot then the flow of control is transferred to the step S408. In thestep S405, the image control circuit 16 is controlled by the CPU 21 soas to provide a display upon the monitor 29 as shown in FIG. 39(b). Thatis to say, along with displaying the film frame numbers laid out in theform of a matrix, that one of these frame numbers which designates theposition of the area on the film which is passing the image area 12 isdisplayed as flashing. In this figure, the number of 17 is flashing.Hereinafter, this type of screen display will be referred to as thescreen display D. With this type of display, it is possible for theoperator to be aware of the state of forwarding of the film F. In thenext step S406, the frame number of the frame which is currently opposedto the image area 12 is detected from the magnetic information. And inthe next step S407 a decision is taken as to whether or not the framenumber which has thus been detected in the step S406 is equal to thenumber of the last film frame, and if in fact this is the last filmframe then the flow of control is transferred to the step S419 of theFIG. 5 flow chart, while otherwise the flow of control loops back to thestep S405, so as to continue providing the display of the screen displayD upon the screen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S404 is NO, then in the stepS408 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen display modewhich is currently selected is the screen display mode (B), and if infact the screen display mode (B) is currently selected then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S409, while if not then the flow of controlis transferred to the step S412. In the step S409, the image controlcircuit 16 is controlled by the CPU 21 so as to provide a display uponthe monitor 29 as shown in FIG. 37(b), which says that the film is beingforwarded and displays the frame numbers which designate the portion ofthe film which is passing the image area 12. Thus the exemplary displayshown in FIG. 37(b) means that the film F is currently positioned withits portion between frames numbers 17 and 18 in opposition to the imagearea 12, and that the film is currently being forwarded. Hereinafter,this type of screen display will be referred to as the screen display B.Thus, it is possible for the operator to be aware of the state offorwarding of the film F by looking at the monitor 29. In the next stepS410, the frame number of the frame which is currently opposed to theimage area 12 is detected from the magnetic information. And in the nextstep S411 a decision is taken as to whether or not the frame numberwhich has thus been detected in the step S410 is equal to the number ofthe last film frame, and if in fact this is the last film frame then theflow of control is transferred to the step S419 of the FIG. 5 flowchart, while otherwise the flow of control loops back to the step S409,so as to continue providing the display of the screen display B upon thescreen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S408 is NO, then in the stepS412 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen display modewhich is currently selected is the screen display mode (G), and if infact the screen display mode (G) is currently selected then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S413, while if not then the flow of controlis transferred to the step S416 of the FIG. 5 flow chart. In the stepS413, the image control circuit 16 is controlled by the CPU 21 so as toprovide a display upon the monitor 29 as shown in FIG. 42(b), whichmerely consists of a predetermined pattern. Hereinafter, this type ofscreen display will be referred to as the screen display G. In thismanner only the predetermined pattern is displayed, without any imagefrom or directly related to the film being displayed upon the monitor29. In the next step S414, the frame number of the frame which iscurrently opposed to the image area 12 is detected from the magneticinformation. And in the next step S415 a decision is taken as to whetheror not the frame number which has thus been detected in the step S414 isequal to the number of the last film frame, and if in fact this is thelast film frame then the flow of control is transferred to the step S419of the FIG. 5 flow charts while otherwise the flow of control loops backto the step S413, so as to continue providing the display of the screendisplay G upon the screen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S412 is NO, then in the stepS416 of the FIG. 5 flow chart the image control circuit 16 is controlledby the CPU 21 so as to provide a display upon the monitor 29 as shown inFig. 36(b), which is blank. Hereinafter, this type of screen displaywill be referred to as the screen display A. In the next step S417, theframe number of the frame which is currently opposed to the image area12 is detected from the magnetic information. And in the next step S418a decision is taken as to whether or not the frame number which has thusbeen detected in the step S417 is equal to the number of the last filmframe, and if in fact this is the last film frame then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S419, while otherwise the flow ofcontrol loops back to the step S416, so as to continue providing thedisplay of the blank screen display A upon the screen of the monitor 29.

In the step S419, after reading in the magnetic information from thefilm F, the information storage is terminated and the flow of controlproceeds to the step S420. In the next step S420, the reading in ofmagnetic information is terminated. And in the next step S421 the motors4 and 5 are stopped in the state in which the last film frame positionedat the image area 12 and the winding on of the film is terminated, andthen the flow of control is transferred to the step S801 of the FIG. 12flow chart.

Thus as described above, in the film displacement mode A, during thetime period while the film F is being wound forwards until the last filmframe comes to be positioned at the image area 12, the image controlcircuit 16 is controlled by the CPU 21 so as not to output the firstpicture signal S1 which is output by the CCD 14. In this manner, duringthe time period until an image of the last film frame is displayed, animage of the frame on the film F which has been forwarded as far as theimage area 12, in other words an image of the portion of the film whichis currently positioned there during film forwarding, is not displayedupon the monitor 29 (with the screen display modes (D), (B), (G), and(A)). Further, by outputting a second picture signal S2 during theforwarding of the film, any desired information or the like can beoutput upon the monitor 29 (with the screen display modes (D), (B), and(G)).

Moreover, as an alternative, it would also be acceptable for the screendisplay mode (D), (B) or (G) to be selected as the default when noscreen display mode was input, although the screen display mode (A) isselected in this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention. Further, it would also beacceptable to provide a switch for switching over the screen displaymode, so that it was possible to change the screen display mode whilethe film was being forwarded.

Film Displacement Mode B

When it is detected in the step S306 of the FIG. 2 flow chart that thefilm displacement mode B is selected, then the flow of control followsthe flow charts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Moreover, if it is detected inthe step S309 of the FIG. 3 flow chart that the film displacement mode Dis selected, then also during film forwarding until the first film framecontrol is performed according to the flow charts of FIGS. 6 and 7. Inthe first step S501 the rewind motor 4 and the wind on motor 5 areoperated so as to start the winding on of the film F. In the next stepS502 the reading out of magnetic information from the film F by themagnetic head 7 and by the magnetic read circuit 17 is commenced. Nextin the step S503 the magnetic information which has been read out in theprevious step S502 is stored in the information storage device 28. Inthe next step S504 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screendisplay mode which is currently selected is the screen display mode (B),and if in fact the screen display mode (B) is currently selected thenthe flow of control proceeds to the step S505, while if not then theflow of control is transferred to the step S508. In the step S505, apicture signal for the screen display B is output to the monitor 29. Inthe next step S506, the frame number of the frame which is currentlyopposed to the image area 12 is detected from the magnetic information.And in the next step S507 a decision is taken as to whether or not theframe number which has thus been detected in the step S506 is equal tothe number of the first film frame, and if in fact this is the firstfilm frame then the flow of control is transferred to the step S514 ofthe FIG. 7 flow chart, while otherwise the flow of control loops back tothe step S505, so as to continue providing the display of the screendisplay B upon the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S504 is NO, then in the stepS508 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen display modewhich is currently selected is the screen display mode (G), and if infact the screen display mode (G) is currently selected then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S509, while if not then the flow of controlis transferred to the step S512 of the FIG. 7 flow chart. In the stepS509, a picture signal S for the screen display G is output to themonitor 29. In the next step S510, the frame number of the frame whichis currently opposed to the image area 12 is detected from the magneticinformation. And in the next step S511 a decision is taken as to whetheror not the frame number which has thus been detected in the step S510 isequal to the number of the first film frame, and if in fact this is thefirst film frame then the flow of control is transferred to the stepS514 of the FIG. 7 flow chart, while otherwise the flow of control loops back to the step S509, so as to continue providing the display of thescreen display G upon the screen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S508 is NO, then in the stepS512 of the FIG. 7 flow chart, as shown in FIG. 36, the CPU 21 controlsto display nothing on the monitor 29 (screen display A). In the nextstep S513, a decision is taken as to whether or not the frame number ofthe film frame which is currently opposed to the image area 12 is equalto the number of the first film frame, and if in fact this is the firstfilm frame then the flow of control is transferred to the step S514,while otherwise the flow of control loops back to the step S512, so asto continue providing the display of the screen display A upon thescreen of the monitor 29. In the step S514, after all of the magneticinformation has been read in from the film F, the information storage isterminated and the flow of control proceeds to the step S515. In thenext step S515, the reading in of magnetic information is terminated.And in the next step S516 the motors 4 and 5 are stopped in the state inwhich the first film frame positioned at the image area 12 and thewinding on of the film is terminated. Then in the next step S517 adecision is taken as to what is the current value of the variable M, andif M is equal to unity (which implies that the film displacement mode Dis selected) then the flow of control is transferred to the step S701 ofthe FIG. 10 flow chart, while if the value of M is zero (which impliesthat the film displacement mode B is selected) then the flow of controlis transferred to the step S801 of the FIG. 12 flow chart.

Thus as described above, in the film displacement mode B, during thetime period while the film F is being wound forwards until the firstfilm frame comes to be positioned at the image area 12, the imagecontrol circuit 16 is controlled by the CPU 21 so as not to output thefirst picture signal S1. In this manner, in the film displacement modeB, during the time period until an image of the first film frame isdisplayed, an image of the image area 12, in other words an image of theportion of the film which is currently positioned there during filmforwarding, is not displayed upon the monitor 29 (with the screendisplay modes (D) , (B), (G), and (A)). Further, by taking advantage ofthis time period, any desired information or the like can be output uponthe monitor 29 (with the screen display modes (D), (B), and (G)).

Moreover, although in this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention the construction was suchthat the screen display mode (A) was selected as the default when noscreen display mode was input, as an alternative, it would also beacceptable to select the screen display mode (D) (B), or (G).

Film Displacement Mode C

When it is detected in the step S308 of the FIG. 3 flow chart that thefilm displacement mode C is selected, then the flow of control followsthe flow charts shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In the first step S601 therewind motor 4 and the wind on motor 5 are operated so as to start thewinding on of the film F. In the next step S602 the reading out ofmagnetic information from the film F by the magnetic head 7 and by themagnetic read circuit 17 is commenced. Next in the step S603 themagnetic information which has been read out in the previous step S602is stored in the information storage device 28.

In the next step S604 a decision is taken as to whether or not thescreen display mode which is currently selected is the screen displaymode (D), and if in fact the screen display mode (D) is currentlyselected then the flow of control proceeds to the step S605, while ifnot then the flow of control is transferred to the step S608. In thestep S605, a picture signal for the screen display D is output to themonitor 29. In the next step S606, the frame number of the frame whichis currently opposed to the image area 12 is detected from the magneticinformation. And in the next step S607 a decision is taken as to whetheror not the frame number which has thus been detected in the step S606 isequal to the number of the designated film frame, and if in fact this isthe designated film frame then the flow of control is transferred to thestep S619 of the FIG. 9 flow chart, while otherwise the flow of controlloops back to the step S605, so as to continue providing the display ofthe screen display D upon the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S604 is NO, then in the stepS608 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen display modewhich is currently selected is the screen display mode (B), and if infact the screen display mode (B) is currently selected then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S609, while if not then the flow of controlis transferred to the step S612. In the step S609, a picture signal forthe screen display B is output to the monitor 29. In the next step S610,the frame number of the frame which is currently opposed to the imagearea 12 is detected from the magnetic information. And in the next stepS611 a decision is taken as to whether or not the frame number which hasthus been detected in the step S610 is equal to the number of thedesignated film frame, and if in fact this is the designated film framethen the flow of control is transferred to the step S619 of the FIG. 9flow chart, while otherwise the flow of control loops back to the stepS609, so as to continue providing the display of the screen display Bupon the screen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S608 is NO, then in the stepS612 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen display modewhich is currently selected is the screen display mode (G), and if infact the screen display mode (G) is currently selected then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S613, while if not then the flow of controlis transferred to the step S616 of the FIG. 9 flow chart. In the stepS613, a picture signal for the screen display G is output to the monitor29. In the next step S614, the frame number of the frame which iscurrently opposed to the image area 12 is detected from the magneticinformation. And in the next step S615 a decision is taken as to whetheror not the frame number which has thus been detected in the step S614 isequal to the number of the designated film frame, and if in fact this isthe designated film frame then the flow of control is transferred to thestep S619 of the FIG. 9 flow chart, while otherwise the flow of controlloops back to the step S613, so as to continue providing the display ofthe screen display G upon the screen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S612 is NO, then in the stepS616 of the FIG. 9 flow chart, the image control circuit 16 iscontrolled so that no picture is displayed on the monitor 29 (screendisplay A). In the next step S617, the frame number of the frame whichis currently opposed to the image area 12 is detected from the magneticinformation. And in the next step S618 a decision is taken as to whetheror not this frame number detected in the previous step S617 is equal tothe number of the designated film frame, and if in fact this is thedesignated film frame then the flow of control is transferred to thestep S619, while otherwise the flow of control loops back to the stepS616, so as to continue providing the display of the screen display Aupon the screen of the monitor 29. In the step S619, after all of themagnetic information has been read in from the film F, the magneticstorage is terminated and the flow of control proceeds to the step S620.In the next step S620, the reading in of magnetic information isterminated. And in the next step S621 the motors 4 and 5 are stopped inthe state in which the designated film frame positioned at the imagearea 12 and the winding on of the film is terminated; and then the flowof control is transferred to the step S801 of the FIG. 12 flow chart.

Thus as described above, in the film displacement mode C, during thetime period while the film F is being wound forwards until thedesignated film frame comes to be positioned at the image area 12, theimage control circuit 16 is controlled by the CPU 21 so as not to outputthe first picture signal S1. In this manner, in the film displacementmode C, during the time period until an image of the designated filmframe is displayed, an image of the image area 12, in other words animage of the portion of the film which is currently positioned thereduring film forwarding, is not displayed upon the monitor 29 (with thescreen display modes (D), (B), (G) and (A)). Further, by takingadvantage of this time period, any required information or the like canbe output upon the monitor 29 (with the screen display modes (D), (B),and (G)) .

Moreover, although in this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention the construction was suchthat the screen display mode (A) was selected as the default when noscreen display mode was input, as an alternative, it would also beacceptable to select the screen display mode (D), (B), or (G). Further,it would also be acceptable to provide a switch for switching over thescreen display mode, so that it was possible to change the screendisplay mode while the film was being forwarded.

Film Displacement Mode D

When it is detected in the step S309 of the FIG. 3 flow chart that thefilm displacement mode D is selected, then the flow of control followsthe flow charts shown in Figs. 10 and 11. From the state in which thefirst film frame is opposed to the image area 12 (the step S516 of theFIG. 7 flow chart), in the first step S701 a timer is set to zero and isstarted so as to count time. In the next step S702 an image (the firstpicture signal S1) of the film frame which is currently opposed to theimage area 12 is output to the monitor 29. Further, at the same time,the magnetically recorded information upon the film F, the film framenumber, and the like (the second picture signal S2) is output by theimage control circuit 16 as a superimposed display. In the next stepS703, the image of the frame which was read out in the previous stepS702 is stored in the information storage device 28. In the next stepS704 a decision is taken as to whether or not the time value T countedby the timer has yet reached 5 seconds, and if it has then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S705, while if the time value T is stillless than 5 seconds then the flow of control loops back to the stepS702. In this manner the image of the current film frame, and theinformation associated therewith, are displayed on the monitor for aperiod of 5 seconds. In the step S705 the timer is stopped, and the flowof control proceeds to the step S706. In this step S706 the wind onmotor 5 is started and the winding on of the film is commenced.

In the step S707 of the FIG. 11 flow chart the reading out of themagnetically recorded information on the film by the magnetic head 7 andby the magnetic read circuit 17 is started. In the next step S708 thismagnetic information read out in the previous step S707 is stored in theinformation storage device 28. In the next step S709, the frame imagewhich was stored in the step S703 and the frame number of the film framewhich is currently opposed to the image area 12 are displayed upon themonitor 29, as shown in FIG. 38. Hereinafter, this type of screendisplay will be referred to as screen display C. In the next step S710 adecision is taken as to whether or not the next film frame has yet cometo be positioned in opposition to the image area 12, and if it has thenthe flow of control continues to the next step S711, while if the nextfilm frame has not yet reached the image area 12 then the flow ofcontrol loops back to the step S709, so as to continue providing thescreen display C. In the next step S711 the storage of the magneticinformation is terminated since it has now all been read out, and theflow of control proceeds to the next step S712. In this step S712 thereading out of the magnetic information is terminated. In the next stepS713 the wind on motor 5 is stopped, so as to stop winding on the film Fin its state with the next film frame positioned so as to oppose theimage area 12. And in the next step S714 a decision is taken as towhether or not the film frame which now is opposing the image area 12 isthe last frame upon the film F. If so, then the flow of control proceedsto the step S801 of the FIG. 12 flow chart, while if not then the flowof control returns to the step S701 of the FIG. 10 flow chart. In thismanner, the steps S701 through S713 are repeatedly executed until thelast frame on the film F reaches the image area 12, and the film isadvanced in a stepwise manner at intervals of about 5 seconds.

In the above described film displacement mode D, with regard to thesteps S709 through S711, during the time period while the next filmframe is being brought to oppose the image area 12, an image of theprevious film frame and the frame information for the film frame whichis currently opposed to the image area 12 are displayed upon the monitor29. Since images of the film frame which was displayed before forwardingand of the next film frame are displayed in immediate sequence, a movingimage presentation becomes possible, in particular in the case of filmframes which have been shot using continuous shooting. In this case, itwould be acceptable that the image of the previous film frame withoutthe frame information was displayed.

In the step S801 of the FIG. 12 flow chart, an image (the first picturesignal S1) of the film frame which is currently opposed to the imagearea 12, the magnetically recorded information upon the film F, theframe number of the film frame which is currently opposed to the imagearea 12, and the like (the second picture signal S2) are superimposed bythe image control circuit 16 and output to the monitor 29 for display.In the next step S802, the image of the frame which was read in by theprevious step S801 is stored in the information storage device 28. Inthe next step S803, a decision is taken as to whether or not anyamendment to, addition to, or deletion from the magnetically recordedinformation is required, and if such alteration is required then theflow of control proceeds to the next step S804, while if not then theflow of control is transferred to the step S806. In the step S804, thecontents of this required amendment to, addition to, or deletion fromthe magnetically recorded information is input from the informationinput device 27, and then the flow of control continues to the next stepS805. In this step S805, the magnetic information as altered by thisamendment, addition, or deletion which was input in the step S804 isstored in the information storage device 28, and then the flow ofcontrol returns to the step S801.

In the step S806 a decision is taken as to whether or not the filmcartridge removal switch is being pressed in order to command removal ofthe film cartridge which is currently loaded, and if the film cartridgeremoval switch is being pressed then the flow of control is transferredto the step S1301 of the FIG. 22 flow chart, while if the film cartridgeremoval switch is not being pressed then the flow of control continuesto the step S807. In the step S807, a decision is taken as to whether ornot the next film frame number for display is being designated, and ifthe next film frame number for display is being designated then the flowof control is transferred to the step S1101 of the FIG. 18 flow chart,while if no next film frame number for display is being designated thenthe flow of control is transferred to the step S808 of the FIG. 13 flowchart. In this step S808, a decision is taken as to whether or not theall frames rewind switch is being pressed, and if so then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1201 of the FIG. 20 flow chart,while if this all frames rewind switch is not being pressed then theflow of control proceeds to the step S809. In this next step S809, adecision is taken as to whether or not the story mode is selected, andif it is then the flow of control is transferred to the step S1601 ofthe FIG. 27 flow chart, while if the story mode is not selected the flowof control proceeds to the next step S810. In this step S810, decisionis taken as to whether or not the single frame rewind switch is beingpressed, and if so then the flow of control proceeds to the step S811,while if this single frame rewind switch is not being pressed then theflow of control is transferred to the step S813. In the step S811, adecision is taken as to whether or not the film frame which is currentlyopposing the image area 12 is the first film frame, and if it is thenthe flow of control proceeds to the step S812, while if this is not thefirst film frame then the flow of control is transferred to the stepS901 of the FIG. 14 flow chart. In the step S812 an error indication isdisplayed, and then the flow of control loops back to the step S801. Onthe other hand, in the step S813, a decision is taken as to whether ornot the single frame advance switch is being pressed, and if so then theflow of control proceeds to the step S814, while if this single frameadvance switch is not being pressed then the flow of control loops backto the step S801. In the next step S814, a decision is taken as towhether or not the film frame which is currently opposing the image area12 is the last frame on the film F, and if it is then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S815, while if this is not the last filmframe then the flow of control is transferred to the step S901 of theFIG. 14 flow chart. In the step S815 an error indication is displayed,and then the flow of control loops back to the step S801.

In the step S901 of the FIG. 14 flow chart the rewind motor 4 and thewind on motor 5 are started, and the displacing of the film F iscommenced. If the flow of control has arrived at this step S901 from thestep S810 in which it was decided that the single frame rewind switchwas being pressed, then the film F is rewound by the rewind motor 4;while on the other hand, if the flow of control has arrived at this stepS901 from the step S813 in which it was decided that the single frameadvance switch was being pressed, then the film F is wound forward bythe wind on motor 5. In the step S902 the reading out of themagnetically recorded information on the film F by the magnetic head 7and by the magnetic read circuit 17 is started. In the next step S903the storage of this magnetic information read out in the previous stepS902 in the information storage device 28 is started. In the next stepS904 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen display mode(B) is selected, and if so then the flow of control proceeds to the stepS905, while if the screen display mode (B) is not selected then the flowof control is transferred to the step S910. In the step S905, thepicture signal S for the screen display B is output to the monitor 29.In the next step S906, a decision is taken based upon the magneticinformation which was read in in the step S902 as to whether or not thefilm frame which is currently opposed to the image area 12 is the firstfilm frame in series (the first film frame which is to be displayed)from a set of film frames which have been mutually associated, and ifthe result is YES then the flow of control proceeds to the step S907,while if the result is NO then the flow of control skips to the stepS908. In the step S907 a decision is taken as to whether or not the stepdisplacement mode is selected, and if it is then the flow of control istransferred to the step S1001 of the FIG. 16 flow chart, while if thestep displacement mode is not selected then the flow of controlcontinues to the next step S908. In this step S908, the frame number ofthe film frame which currently is opposed to the image area 12 isdetected from the magnetic information upon the film F. Then in the nextstep S909 a decision is taken as to whether or not the preceding frameupon the film F (that is the next frame in the case of film rewinding)or the following film frame (that is the next frame in the case ofwinding the film forwards) has been reached, and the flow of controlloops around until this condition is satisfied. Then the flow of controlis transferred to the step S921 of the FIG. 15 flow chart.

If in the step S904 it is decided that the screen display mode (B) isnot selected then the flow of control is transferred to the step S910,in which a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen displaymode (G) is selected, and if so then the flow of control proceeds to thestep S911, while if the screen display mode (G) is not selected then theflow of control is transferred to the step S916. In the step S911, thepicture signal S for the screen display G is output to the monitor 29.In the next step S912, a decision is taken based upon the magneticinformation which was read in in the step S902 as to whether or not thefilm frame which is currently opposed to the image area 12 is the firstfilm frame in series (the first film frame which is to be displayed)from a set of film frames which have been mutually associated, and ifthe result is YES then the flow of control proceeds to the step S913,while if the result is NO then the flow of control skips to the stepS914. In the step S913 a decision is taken as to whether or not the stepdisplacement mode is selected, and if it is then the flow of control istransferred to the step S1001 of the FIG. 16 flow chart, while if thestep displacement mode is not selected then the flow of controlcontinues to the next step S914. In this step S914, the frame number ofthe film frame which currently is opposed to the image area 12 isdetected from the magnetic information upon the film F. Then in the nextstep S915 of the FIG. 15 flow chart a decision is taken as to whether ornot the preceding film frame or the following film frame has beenreached, and the flow of control loops around until this condition issatisfied. Then the flow of control is transferred to the step S921.

In the step S916, the image control circuit 16 is controlled so as todisplay no picture on the monitor 29 as shown in FIG. 36 (the screendisplay A). In the next step S917, a decision is taken based upon themagnetic information which was read in in the step S902 as to whether ornot the film frame which is currently opposed to the image area 12 isthe first film frame in series (the first film frame which is to bedisplayed) from a set of film frames which have been mutuallyassociated, and if the result is YES then the flow of control proceedsto the step S918, while if the result is NO then the flow of controlskips to the step S919 of the FIG. 15 flow chart. In the step S918 adecision is taken as to whether or not the step displacement mode isselected, and if it is then the flow of control is transferred to thestep S1001 of the FIG. 16 flow chart, while if the step displacementmode is not selected then the flow of control continues to the next stepS919. In this step S919, the frame number of the film frame whichcurrently is opposed to the image area 12 is detected from the magneticinformation upon the film F. Then in the next step S920 a decision istaken as to whether or not the preceding film frame or the followingfilm frame has been reached, and the flow of control loops around untilthis condition is satisfied. Then the flow of control is transferred tothe step S921. In this step S921, a decision is taken as to whether thefilm frame which currently is opposed to the image area 12 is the lastframe upon the film F, and if it is then the flow of control continuesto the step S922, while if the current film frame is not the last filmframe then the flow of control is transferred to the step S923. In thestep S922 the fact that this is the last film frame is displayed uponthe monitor 29, and then the flow of control is transferred to the stepS925. In the step S923, a decision is taken as to whether the film framewhich currently is opposed to the image area 12 is the first frame uponthe film F, and if it is then the flow of control continues to the stepS924, while if the current film frame is not the first film frame thenthe flow of control is transferred to the step S925. In the step S924the fact that this is the first film frame is displayed upon the monitor29, and then the flow of control is transferred to the step S925. Inthis step S925 the storage of the magnetic information from the film Fis terminated, since now it has all been read in, and the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S926. In this next step S926, the readingin of magnetic information from the film F is terminated. And in thenext step S927 the motors 4 and 5 are stopped with the preceding or thefollowing film frame positioned at the image area 12 and thedisplacement of the film is terminated, and then the flow of control istransferred to the step S801 of the FIG. 12 flow chart, and hereinafteran image of the preceding or the following film frame is displayed, asdescribed above.

Thus, as described above, when either the single frame rewind switch orthe single frame advance switch has been pressed, during the time periodwhile the film is being displaced until the preceding frame upon thefilm F (that is the next frame in the case of film rewinding) or thefollowing film frame (that is the next frame in the case of winding thefilm forwards) arrives at a position to oppose the image area 12, theimage control circuit 16 is controlled by the CPU 21 so as not to outputthe first picture signal S1. In this manner, during the time perioduntil an image of the proper film frame is output, no image of the imagearea 12, that is to say, of the portion of the film F that is passingthe image area 12 while the film is being displaced, is displayed uponthe monitor 29 (film image modes (B), (G), and (A)). Further, this timeperiod is taken advantage of for displaying information which isactually required upon the screen of the monitor 29 (film image modes(B) and (G)).

The Step Displacement Mode

When the step displacement mode switch has been pressed then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the programs whose flow charts are shown inFIGS. 16 and 17. In the first step S1001 of FIG. 16, the program loopsaround until the next film frame reaches a position so as to oppose theimage area 12, and when this condition is satisfied the flow of controlcontinues to the next step S1002. In this step S1002 the storage of themagnetic information is terminated since it has now all been read out,and the flow of control proceeds to the next step S1003. In this stepS1003 the reading out of the magnetic information is terminated. In thenext step S1004 the wind on motor 5 is stopped, so as to stop displacingthe film F which is now positioned so that the next film frame isopposed to the image area 12. In the next step S1005 the timer is set tozero and is started so as to count time. In the next step S1006 an imageof the film frame which is currently opposed to the image area 12 isoutput to the monitor 29. Further, at the same time, the magneticallyrecorded information upon the film F and a message informing theoperator of the film frame number is output by the image control circuit16 as a superimposed display. In the next step S1007 the image of theframe which was read in by the previous step S1006 is stored in theinformation storage device 28. And in the next step S1008 a decision istaken as to whether or not the time value T counted by the timer has yetreached 5 seconds, and if it has then the flow of control proceeds tothe step S1009 of the FIG. 17 flow chart, while if the time value T isstill less than 5 seconds then the flow of control loops back to thestep S1006. In this manner the image of the current film frame isdisplayed on the monitor for a period of 5 seconds. In the next stepS1009 (referring now to FIG. 17) the timer is stopped, and then in thenext step S1010 a decision is taken as to whether or not the film framewhich is currently opposed to the image area 12 is the last film framein series (the last film frame which is to be displayed) from the set offilm frames which have been mutually associated, and if the result isYES then the flow of control is transferred to the step S801 of the FIG.12 flow chart, while if the result is NO then the flow of controlproceeds to the step S1011. In this next step S1011, a decision istaken, based upon the magnetic information which was read in in the stepS902, as to whether or not this is the last film frame in the series offilm frames which have been mutually associated. In the step S1011 theimage which was displayed in the step S1006 is held. In the next stepS1012 the wind on motor 5 is started and the winding on of the film F iscommenced In the step S1013 the reading out of the magnetically recordedinformation on the film F by the magnetic head 7 and by the magneticread circuit 17 is started. In the next step S1014 the storage in theinformation storage device 28 of this magnetic information read out inthe previous step S1013 is started; and then the flow of control returnsto the step S1001 of the FIG. 16 flow chart.

As explained above, when the predecessor film frame and the successorfilm frame have been mutually associated, in this step displacementmode, during the time interval until the successor film frame comes tobe positioned so as to oppose the image area 12, an image of thepredecessor film frame is held (in the step S1011). Accordingly, sinceimages of each frame in an associated set from the first film frame tothe last film frame which (for example) have been shot using continuousshooting can be displayed successively in order for an interval of about5 seconds each with no break between them, therefore a moving imagepresentation becomes possible, in particular in the case of film frameswhich have been shot using continuous shooting.

The Frame Designation Mode

When the frame designation mode is selected in the step S807 of the FIG.12 flow chart, the flow of control is transferred to the step S1101 ofthe FIG. 18 flow chart, in which the operation of the wind on motor 5 isstarted so as to start the winding forwards or the rewinding of the filmF. Whether the film F is to be wound forwards or backwards is determinedaccording to which of the frame number of the film frame which currentlyis positioned so as to oppose the image area 12 and the frame number ofthe designated film frame is the greater. In the next step S1102 thereading out of magnetic information from the film F by the magnetic head7 and by the magnetic read circuit 17 is commenced. Next in the stepS1103 the magnetic information which has been read out in the previousstep S1102 is stored in the information storage device 28, and the flowof control proceeds to the next step S1104.

In this step S1104 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screendisplay mode which is currently selected is the (D) screen display mode,and if in fact the (D) screen display mode is currently selected thenthe flow of control proceeds to the step S1105, while if not then theflow of control is transferred to the step S1108. In the step S1105, thescreen display D is provided on the monitor 29. In the next step S1106,the frame number of the frame which is currently opposed to the imagearea 12 is detected from the magnetic information And in the next stepS1107 a decision is taken as to whether or not the frame number whichhas thus been detected in the step S1106 is equal to the number of thedesignated film frame, and if in fact this is the designated film framethen the flow of control is transferred to the step S1129 of the FIG. 19flow chart, while if the designated film frame has not yet been reachedthen the flow of control loops back to the step S1105, so as to continueproviding the display of the screen display D upon the screen of themonitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S1104 is NO, then in the stepS1108 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen display modewhich is currently selected is the screen display mode (E), and if infact the screen display mode (E) is currently selected then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S1109, while if not then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1113. In the step S1109, the pictureimage data which has already been stored in the information storagedevice 28 is read out. In the next step S1110, the images from the filmF which have been read in are processed and a series of reducedthumbnail images are generated, and the image control circuit 16 iscontrolled by the CPU 21 so as to provide a display in which thesethumbnail images are displayed in the form of a matrix upon the monitor29 as shown in FIG. 40(b). Those of the film frames for which imageshave already been read in and stored are shown by thumbnail images,while blank matrix spaces are left in correspondence to those of thefilm frames for which images have not yet been read in. Further, thematrix element corresponding to the film frame which currently ispassing past the image area 12 is displayed as flashing. Hereinafter,this type of screen display will be referred to as the screen display E.In the next step Sllll, the frame number of the frame which is currentlyopposed to the image area 12 is detected from the magnetic information.And in the next step S1112 a decision is taken as to whether or not theframe number which has thus been detected in the step S1111 is equal tothe number of the designated film frame, and if in fact this is thedesignated film frame then the flow of control is transferred to thestep S1129 of the FIG. 19 flow chart, while if the designated film framehas not yet been reached then the flow of control loops back to the stepS1109, so as to continue providing the display of the screen display Eupon the screen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S1108 is NO, then in the stepS1113 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen display modewhich is currently selected is the screen display mode (F), and if infact the screen display mode (F) is currently selected then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S1114, while if not then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1118 of the FIG. 19 flow chart. Inthe step S1114, the picture image data which has already been stored inthe information storage device 28 is read out. In the next step S1115,the images from the film F which have been read in are processed and aseries of reduced thumbnail images are generated, and the image controlcircuit 16 is controlled by the CPU 21 so as to provide a display inwhich these thumbnail images are displayed in the form of a matrix uponthe monitor 29 as shown in FIG. 41(b). Those of the film frames forwhich images have already been read in and stored are shown by thumbnailimages, while in the matrix spaces which correspond to those of the filmframes for which images have not yet been read in, only the framenumbers of these non available film frames are shown. Further, thematrix element corresponding to the film frame which currently ispassing past the image area 12 is displayed as flashing. Hereinafter,this type of screen display will be referred to as the screen display F.In the next step S1116, the frame number of the frame which is currentlyopposed to the image area 12 is detected from the magnetic information.And in the next step S1117 a decision is taken as to whether or not theframe number which has thus been detected in the step S1116 is equal tothe number of the designated film frame, and if in fact this is thedesignated film frame then the flow of control is transferred to thestep S1129 of the FIG. 19 flow chart, while if the designated film framehas not yet been reached then the flow of control loops back to the stepS1114, so as to continue providing the display of the screen display Fupon the screen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S1113 is No, then in the stepS1118 of the FIG. 19 flow chart a decision is taken as to whether or notthe screen display mode which is currently selected is the (B) screendisplay mode, and if in fact the (B) screen display mode is currentlyselected then the flow of control proceeds to the step S1119, while ifnot then the flow of control is transferred to the step S1122. In thestep S1119, the screen display B is provided on the monitor 29. In thenext step S1120, the frame number of the frame which is currentlyopposed to the image area 12 is detected from the magnetic information.And in the next step S1121 a decision is taken as to whether or not theframe number which has thus been detected in the step S1120 is equal tothe number of the designated film frame, and if in fact this is thedesignated film frame then the flow of control is transferred to thestep S1129, while if the designated film frame has not yet been reachedthen the flow of control loops back to the step S1119, so as to continueproviding the display of the screen display B upon the screen of themonitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S1118 is NO, then in the stepS1122 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen display modewhich is currently selected is the (G) screen display mode, and if infact the (G) screen display mode is currently selected then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S1123, while if not then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1126. In the step S1123, the screendisplay G is provided on the monitor 29. In the next step S1124, theframe number of the frame which is currently opposed to the image area12 is detected from the magnetic information. And in the next step S1125a decision is taken as to whether or not the frame number which has thusbeen detected in the step S1124 is equal to the number of the designatedfilm frame, and if in fact this is the designated film frame then theflow of control is transferred to the step S1129, while if thedesignated film frame has not yet been reached then the flow of controlloops back to the step S1123, so as to continue providing the display ofthe screen display G upon the screen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S1122 is NO, then in the stepS1126 the image control circuit 16 is controlled by the CPU 21 so as toprovide a display (the screen display A) upon the monitor 29 as shown inFIG. 36(b), which is blank. In the next step S1127, the frame number ofthe frame which is currently opposed to the image area 12 is detectedfrom the magnetic information. And in the next step S1128 a decision istaken as to whether or not the frame number which has thus been detectedin the step S1127 is equal to the number of the designated film frame,and if in fact this is the designated film frame then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1129, while otherwise the flow ofcontrol loops back to the step S1126, so as to continue providing thedisplay of the blank screen display A upon the screen of the monitor 29.In the step S1129, since all of the magnetic information has been readin from the film F, the information storage is terminated and the flowof control proceeds to the step S1130. In the next step S1130, thereading in of magnetic information is terminated. And in the next stepS1131 the wind on motor 5 is stopped in the state in which thedesignated film frame positioned at the image area 12 and thedisplacement of the film is terminated, and then the flow of control istransferred to the step S801 of the FIG. 12 flow chart.

Thus as described above, in the frame designation mode, during the timeperiod while the film F is being displaced until the designated filmframe comes to be positioned at the image area 12, the image controlcircuit 16 is controlled by the CPU 21 so as not to output the firstpicture signal S1 which is output by the CCD 14. In this manner, duringthe time period until an image of the designated film frame isdisplayed, no image of the portion of the film F which is passing pastthe image area 12, in other words no image of the portion of the filmwhich is currently positioned there during the film displacementprocess, is displayed upon the monitor 29 (with the screen display modes(D), (E), (F), (B), (G), and (A)). Further, this time period is takenadvantage of for displaying useful information upon the screen of themonitor 29 (film image modes (D), (E), (F), (B), and (G)). Furthermore,in the event that an index display showing reduced thumbnailillustrations of only the images of those frames which have already beenread in is output (with the screen display modes (E) and (F)), it ispossible for the operator to determine, for each film frame, whether ornot it has already been viewed in this viewing session.

Moreover, although with this preferred embodiment of the film imagesignal generation apparatus of the present invention it was so arrangedthat the screen display mode (A) was selected as the default screendisplay mode when no screen display mode was input, as an alternative itwould also be acceptable in such a case for any one of the screendisplay modes (D), (E), (F), (B), or (G) to be selected as the defaultscreen display mode.

All Frames Rewind Mode

When in the step S808 of the FIG. 13 flow chart it is decided that theall frames rewind switch is being pressed, then the flow of control istransferred to the step S1201 of the FIG. 20 flow chart, and the programwhose flow chart is shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 is executed.

In this step S1201, the operation of the rewind motor 4 is started so asto start the rewinding of the film F. In the next step S1202 a decisionis taken as to whether or not the screen display mode which is currentlyselected is the (D) screen display mode, and if in fact the (D) screendisplay mode is currently selected then the flow of control proceeds tothe step S1203, while if not then the flow of control is transferred tothe step S1206. In the step S1203, the screen display D is provided onthe monitor 29. In the next step S1204, the frame number of the framewhich is currently opposed to the image area 12 is detected from themagnetic information. And in the next step S1205 a decision is taken asto whether or not it has been detected in the step S1204 that it is thefirst film frame which is currently opposed to the image area 12, and ifin fact this is the first film frame then the flow of control istransferred to the step S1227 of the FIG. 21 flow chart, while if thefirst film frame has not yet been reached then the flow of control loopsback to the step S1203, so as to continue providing the display of thescreen display D upon the screen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S1202 is NO, then in the stepS1206 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen display modewhich is currently selected is the screen display mode (E), and if infact the screen display mode (E) is currently selected then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S1207, while if not then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1211. In the step S1207, the pictureimage data which has already been stored in the information storagedevice 28 is read out. In the next step S1208, the screen display E isprovided on the monitor 29. In the next step S1209, the frame number ofthe frame which is currently opposed to the image area 12 is detectedfrom the magnetic information. And in the next step S1210 a decision istaken as to whether or not the frame whose number which has thus beendetected in the step S1209 is the first film frame, and if in fact thisis the first film frame then the flow of control is transferred to thestep S1227 of the FIG. 21 flow chart, while if the first film frame hasnot yet been reached then the flow of control loops back to the stepS1207, so as to continue providing the display of the screen display Eupon the screen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S1206 is NO, then in the stepS1211 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen display modewhich is currently selected is the screen display mode (F), and if infact the screen display mode (F) is currently selected then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S1212, while if not then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1216. In the step S1212, the pictureimage data which has already been stored in the information storagedevice 28 is read out. In the next step S1213, the screen display F isprovided on the monitor 29. In the next step S1214, the frame number ofthe frame which is currently opposed to the image area 12 is detectedfrom the magnetic information. And in the next step S1215 a decision istaken as to whether or not the frame whose number which has thus beendetected in the step S1214 is the first film frame, and if in fact thisis the first film frame then the flow of control is transferred to thestep S1227 of the FIG. 21 flow chart, while if the first film frame hasnot yet been reached then the flow of control loops back to the stepS1212, so as to continue providing the display of the screen display Fupon the screen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S1211 is NO, then in the stepS1216 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen display modewhich is currently selected is the screen display mode (B), and if infact the screen display mode (B) is currently selected then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S1217, while if not then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1220. In the step S1217, a picturesignal S for the screen display B is output to the monitor 29. In thenext step S1218, the frame number of the frame which is currentlyopposed to the image area 12 is detected from the magnetic information.And in the next step S1219 a decision is taken as to whether or not theframe whose number which has thus been detected in the step S1218 is thefirst film frame, and if in fact this is the first film frame then theflow of control is transferred to the step S1227 of the FIG. 21 flowchart, while if the first film frame has not yet been reached then theflow of control loops back to the step S1217, so as to continueproviding the display of the screen display B upon the screen of themonitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S1216 is NO, then in the stepS1220 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen display modewhich is currently selected is the screen display mode (G), and if infact the screen display mode (G) is currently selected then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S1221, while if not then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1224 of the FIG. 21 flow chart. Inthe step S1221, the screen display G is provided upon the monitor 29. Inthe next step S1222, the frame number of the frame which is currentlyopposed to the image area 12 is detected from the magnetic information.And in the next step S1223 a decision is taken as to whether or not theframe whose number which has thus been detected in the step S1222 is thefirst film frame, and if in fact this is the first film frame then theflow of control is transferred to the step S1227 of the FIG. 21 flowchart, while if the first film frame has not yet been reached then theflow of control loops back to the step S1221, so as to continueproviding the display of the screen display G upon the screen of themonitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S1220 is NO, then in the stepS1224 of the FIG. 21 flow chart as shown in FIG. 36(b) a blank screen(the screen display A) is displayed upon the monitor 29. In the nextstep S1225, the frame number of the frame which is currently opposed tothe image area 12 is detected from the magnetic information. And in thenext step S1226 a decision is taken as to whether or not the frame whosenumber which has thus been detected in the step S1225 is the first filmframe, and if in fact this is the first film frame then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1227, while if the first film framehas not yet been reached then the flow of control loops back to the stepS1224, so as to continue providing the display of the blank screendisplay A upon the screen of the monitor 29. And in the step S1227 theoperation of the rewind motor 4 is stopped so as to stop the rewindingof the film F in the state with the first film frame opposed to theimage area 12; and then the flow of control returns to the step S801 ofthe FIG. 12 flow chart.

Thus as described above, when the all frames rewind switch is pressed,during the time period while the film F is being rewound until the firstfilm frame comes to be positioned at the image area 12, the imagecontrol circuit 16 is controlled by the CPU 21 so as not to output thefirst picture signal S1. In this manner, during the time period until animage of the first film frame is displayed, no image of the portion ofthe film F which is passing past the image area 12, in other words noimage of the portion of the film which is currently positioned thereduring the film rewinding process, is displayed upon the monitor 29(with the screen display modes (D), (E), (F), (B), (G), and (A)).Further, it is possible to take advantage of this time period to displaycertain information upon the monitor 29, as desired (with the screendisplay modes (D), (E), (F), (B), and (G)). Yet further, in the eventthat an index display showing reduced thumbnail illustrations of onlythe images of those frames which have already been read in is output(with the screen display modes (E) and (F)), it is possible for theoperator to determine, for each film frame, whether or not it hasalready been viewed in this viewing session.

Moreover, although with this preferred embodiment of the film imagesignal generation apparatus of the present invention it was so arrangedthat the screen display mode (A) was selected as the default screendisplay mode when no screen display mode was input, as an alternative itwould also be acceptable in such a case for any one of the screendisplay modes (D), (E), (F), (B), or (G) to be selected as the defaultscreen display mode.

Film Cartridge Removal

If in the step S806 of FIG. 12 it is decided that the film cartridgeremoval switch is being pressed in order to command removal of the filmcartridge which is currently loaded, then the flow of control istransferred to the step S1301, and the program whose flow chart is shownin FIGS. 22 through 26 is executed.

In the step S1301 the operation of the rewind motor 4 or the wind onmotor 5 is started so as to start the displacement of the film F. Thedirection for displacement of the film F, i.e. whether the film F iswound forwards or is rewound, depends upon the relative magnitude of theframe number of the current film frame which is opposed to the imagearea 12 at the present time and the number of the highest film frame forwhich amendment to, addition to, or deletion from the magneticallyrecorded information pertaining thereto has been performed. In the nextstep S1302 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen displaymode which is currently selected is the (J) screen display modes and ifin fact the (J) screen display mode is currently selected then the flowof control proceeds to the step S1303, while if not then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1306. In the step S1303, the framenumbers of the film frames for which amendment to, addition to, ordeletion from the magnetically recorded information has been performedare shown upon the monitor 29, as shown in FIG. 44(a); hereinafter, thistype of screen display will be termed the screen display J. In the nextstep S1304, the frame number of the frame which is currently opposed tothe image area 12 is detected from the magnetic information. And in thenext step S1305 a decision is taken as to whether or not this number ofthe film frame which is currently opposed to the image area 12 is equalto that of the highest numbered film frame among those film frames forwhich amendment to, addition to, or deletion from the magneticallyrecorded information has been performed; and if in fact this is thehighest numbered such film frame then the flow of control is transferredto the step S1323 of the FIG. 23 flow chart, while if the highestnumbered such film frame has not yet been reached then the flow ofcontrol loops back to the step S1303, so as to continue providing thedisplay of the screen display J upon the screen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S1302 is NO, then in the stepS1306 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen display modewhich is currently selected is the (K) screen display mode, and if infact the (K) screen display mode is currently selected then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S1307, while if not then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1310. In the step S1307, all of thefilm frame numbers are displayed in a matrix upon the monitor 29, withthe frame numbers of the film frames for which amendment to, additionto, or deletion from the magnetically recorded information has beenperformed being shown as flashing, as shown in FIG. 44(b); hereinafter,this type of screen display will be termed the screen display K. In thenext step S1308, the frame number of the frame which is currentlyopposed to the image area 12 is detected from the magnetic information.And in the next step S1309 a decision is taken as to whether or not thisnumber of the film frame which is currently opposed to the image area 12is equal to that of the highest numbered film frame among those filmframes for which amendment to, addition to, or deletion from themagnetically recorded information has been performed; and if in factthis is the highest numbered such film frame then the flow of control istransferred to the step S1323 of the FIG. 23 flow chart, while if thehighest numbered such film frame has not yet been reached then the flowof control loops back to the step S1307, so as to continue providing thedisplay of the screen display K upon the screen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S1306 is NO, then in the stepS1310 a decision is taken as to whether or not the screen display modewhich is currently selected is the (L) screen display mode, and if infact the (L) screen display mode is currently selected then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the step S1311, while if not then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1314 of the FIG. 23 flow chart. Inthe step S1311, reduced thumbnail illustrations of some of the filmframes (those film frames for which image data has already been read inand is therefore available) and the frame numbers of the others aredisplayed in a matrix upon the monitor 29, with the items correspondingto the film frames for which amendment to, addition to, or deletion fromthe magnetically recorded information has been performed being shown asflashing, as shown in FIG. 44(c); hereinafter, this type of screendisplay will be termed the screen display L. In the next step S1312, theframe number of the frame which is currently opposed to the image area12 is detected from the magnetic information. And in the next step S1313a decision is taken as to whether or not this number of the film framewhich is currently opposed to the image area 12 is equal to that of thehighest numbered film frame among those film frames for which amendmentto, addition to, or deletion from the magnetically recorded informationhas been performed; and if in fact this is the highest numbered suchfilm frame then the flow of control is transferred to the step S1323 ofthe FIG. 23 flow chart, while if the highest numbered such film framehas not yet been reached then the flow of control loops back to the stepS1311, so as to continue providing the display of the screen display Lupon the screen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S1310 is NO, then in the stepS1314 of the FIG. 23 flow chart a decision is taken as to whether or notthe screen display mode which is currently selected is the (M) screendisplay mode, and if in fact the (M) screen display mode is currentlyselected then the flow of control proceeds to the step S1315, while ifnot then the flow of control is transferred to the step S1318. In thestep S1315, the frame numbers of the film frames for which amendment to,addition to, or deletion from the magnetically recorded information hasbeen performed are displayed upon the monitor 29, along with the detailsof the amendment, addition, or deletion, as shown in FIG. 44(d);hereinafter, this type of screen display will be termed the screendisplay M. In the next step S1316, the frame number of the frame whichis currently opposed to the image area 12 is detected from the magneticinformation. And in the next step S1317 a decision is taken as towhether or not this number of the film frame which is currently opposedto the image area 12 is equal to that of the highest numbered film frameamong those film frames for which amendment to, addition to, or deletionfrom the magnetically recorded information has been performed; and if infact this is the highest numbered such film frame then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1323, while if the highest numberedsuch film frame has not yet been reached then the flow of control loopsback to the step S1315, so as to continue providing the display of thescreen display M upon the screen of the monitor 29.

If the result of the decision in the step S1314 is NO, then in the stepS1318 as shown in FIG. 36(b) a blank screen (the screen display A) isdisplayed upon the monitor 29. In the next step S1319, the frame numberof the frame which is currently opposed to the image area 12 is detectedfrom the magnetic information. And in the next step S1320 a decision istaken as to whether or not this number of the film frame which iscurrently opposed to the image area 12 is equal to that of the highestnumbered film frame among those film frames for which amendment to,addition to, or deletion from the magnetically recorded information hasbeen performed; and if in fact this is the highest numbered such filmframe then the flow of control is transferred to the step S1321, whileif the highest numbered such film frame has not yet been reached thenthe flow of control loops back to the step S1318, so as to continueproviding the display of the blank screen display A upon the screen ofthe monitor 29. And in the step S1321 the operation of the wind on motor5 is stopped so as to stop the displacement of the film F. Then in thenext step S1322 the rewind motor 4 is started, so as to start therewinding of the film F, and the flow of control is transferred to thestep S1501 of the FIG. 26 flow chart. In the step S1323 the operation ofthe rewind motor 4 or of the wind on motor 5 is stopped in the state inwhich the highest numbered film frame among those film frames for whichamendment to, addition to, or deletion from the magnetically recordedinformation has been performed is opposed to the image area 12, and thenthe flow of control continues to the next step S1324. In this stepS1324, the rewind motor 4 is started, so as to start the rewinding ofthe film F, and the flow of control is transferred to the step S1401 ofthe FIG. 24 flow chart.

When as described above the film cartridge removal switch is pressed,first, in the steps S1301 through S1324, the film F is displaced (iseither wound forwards or backwards) until the highest numbered filmframe among those film frames for which amendment to, addition to, ordeletion from the magnetically recorded information has been performedis brought to oppose the image area 12. During this displacement, thefilm frames for which the magnetic information has been altered, and/orthe details of the required alterations for the magnetic information,are displayed upon the monitor 29, as explained above with reference tothe screen display modes (J), (K), (L), and (M).

Moreover, although with this preferred embodiment of the film imagesignal generation apparatus of the present invention it was so arrangedthat in these operational circumstances the screen display mode (A) wasselected as the default screen display mode when no screen display modewas input, as an alternative it would also be acceptable in such a casefor any one of the screen display modes (J), (K), (L), or (M) to beselected as the default screen display mode. In such a case, when thescreen display mode (A) is input, the flow of control should betransferred to the step S1501 of the FIG. 26 flow chart, while when anyone of the screen display modes (J), (K), (L), or (M) is selected theflow of control should be transferred to the step S1401 of the FIG. 24flow chart.

In this step S1401, a list is displayed upon the monitor 29 of the framenumbers of the film frames for which amendment to, addition to, ordeletion from the magnetically recorded information has been performed,along with the details of the amendment, addition, or deletions as shownin FIGS. 44(a) and 44(c); and the frame for which magnetic recording isnext to be performed is shown as flashing. Hereinafter, this type ofscreen display will be termed the screen display N. In the next stepS1402, a decision is taken as to whether or not the frame for which themagnetic information is to be altered is currently positioned to opposethe image area 12, and if it is then the flow of control proceeds to thestep S1403, while if the frame for which the magnetic information is tobe altered has not yet reached the image area 12 then the flow ofcontrol loops back to the step S1401. In the next step S1403, since theframe for which the magnetic information is to be altered is currentlypositioned to oppose the image area 12, the rewind motor 4 is stopped,so that the displacement of the film is stopped. In the next step S1404,an image of the film frame which is currently positioned to oppose theimage area 12 is output upon the monitor 29. Further, at the same time,as shown in FIG. 45(b), the number of this current film frame for whichthe magnetic information is to be rewritten and the details of therequired alterations to the magnetic information for this current filmframe are displayed upon the monitor 29 as a legend superimposed uponthe film frame display. By doing this, it is possible for the operatorto check whether or not the alteration to the magnetic information forthis film frame is correct.

In the step S1405 a decision is taken as to whether or not a verifyswitch is being pressed, and if it is on then the flow of controlproceeds to the step S1406, while if this verify switch is not beingpressed then the flow of control is transferred to the step S1408. Inthe step S1406, the rewind motor 4 is operated so as to start rewindingthe film F. In the next step S1407, the magnetic information whichshould be amended, added, or deleted for this film frame is rewrittenonto the film F by the magnetic head 7 under the control of the magneticwrite circuit 18. On the other hand, in the step S1408 a decision istaken as to whether or not a change cancellation switch is beingpressed, and if it is being pressed then the flow of control continuesto the step S1409, while if this change cancellation switch is not beingpressed then the flow of control loops back to the step S1405. In thestep S1409 the rewind motor 4 is operated so as to start rewinding thefilm F. And in the next step S1410 a decision is taken as to whether ornot all required amendments to, additions to, or deletions from themagnetic information for all of the film frames for which suchalterations are required have been completed and if so then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1411 of the FIG. 25 flow chart,while if at least one film frame still remains for which the alterationto the magnetic information has not yet been executed then the flow ofcontrol loops back to the step S1401, so that the operations detailedabove in the steps S1401 through S1410 are repeated for the next filmframe whose magnetic information is to be altered.

In the step S1411 of the FIG. 25 flow chart, the screen display B isprovided. In the next step S1412, the system loops round to wait untilthe film F has been completely rewound through all of the film framesthereof. After all of the film frames have been rewound, in the nextstep S1413 ejection operation for the film cartridge 1 is performed, andthen this operational sequence terminates.

As described above, the magnetic information for each of the film framesfor which amendment to, addition to, or deletion from its magneticinformation is required is rewritten in the steps S1401 through S1413while the film is being rewound. In the step S1401, each time therewriting for one film frame is completed, the frame for which themagnetic information has been rewritten and its magnetic information aredisplayed. Further, in the step S1404, the details of the rewrittenmagnetic information are displayed along with an image of the frame.Accordingly, the operator can check whether or not to perform therewriting of the magnetic information by observing these displays. If norewriting of this film frame is required, then he can skip past thisfilm frame, so as to rewrite the next film frame.

In the step S1501 of the FIG. 26 flow chart, the system loops around towait until a film frame for which amendment to, addition to, or deletionfrom its magnetic information is required is currently positioned so asto be opposed to the image area 12, and when this condition is satisfiedthe flow of control proceeds to the next step S1502. In this step S1502,as shown in FIG. 36(b), a blank screen (the screen display A) isdisplayed upon the monitor 29. In the next step S1503, the magneticinformation which should be amended, added, or deleted for this filmframe is rewritten onto the film F by the magnetic head 7 under thecontrol of the magnetic write circuit 18. In the next step S1504, adecision is taken as to whether or not all required amendments to,additions to, or deletions from the magnetic information for all of thefilm frames for which such alterations are required have been completed,and if so then the flow of control proceeds to the next step S1505,while if at least one film frame still remains for which the alterationto the magnetic information has not yet been executed then the flow ofcontrol loops back to the step S1501, so that the operations detailedabove in the steps S1501 through S1504 are repeated for the next filmframe whose magnetic information is to be altered. In the next stepS1505, the system loops around to continue with rewinding the film Funtil all of the film frames have been rewound. In the final step S1506,ejection operation for the film cartridge 1 is performed, and then thisoperational sequence terminates.

According to this preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention, when the film cartridgeeject switch is pressed, the rewriting of the portions of the magneticinformation upon the film which are required to be altered is performedwhile the film F is being rewound directly before ejecting the filmcartridge 1; but this is not to be considered as essential to theconcept of the present invention; it would also be possible as analternative, for the magnetic information upon the film to be rewrittenwhen a separately provided magnetic information record switch wasactuated in order to command such information rewriting. After therewriting of the magnetic information had been completed at the commandof such a magnetic information record switch, it would be acceptable,for instance, for the first film frame to be left positioned at theimage area 12; or, alternatively, it would also be acceptable for thefilm frame for which alteration to its magnetic information was requiredwhich had the lowest frame number to be left positioned at the imagearea 12.

Further, although the explanation of this preferred embodiment of thefilm image signal generation apparatus of the present invention has beenmade in terms of the rewriting of the portions of the magneticinformation upon the film which are required to be altered beingperformed while the film F is being rewound, it would also be possible,as an alternative, for the rewriting of these portions of the magneticinformation upon the film to be performed while the film F is beingwound forwards. Moreover, it is not absolutely necessary for therewriting of all of the items of magnetic information for whichrewriting is required to be performed all at once, as was the case withthe shown preferred embodiment of the film image signal generationapparatus of the present invention; alternatively, it would beacceptable for the items of magnetic information to be rewritten pieceby piece, as they are input. Furthermore, although with the preferredembodiment of the film image signal generation apparatus of the presentinvention the details of the amendments to, additions to, or deletionsfrom each item of the magnetic information were shown upon the monitor29 when the corresponding magnetic recording was being performed, thisis not to be considered as limitative of the present invention; it wouldalso be possible, as an alternative, for example, for a list of thesedetails of alteration to the various items of magnetic information to beshown at any time when a separately provided switch was pressed. Stillfurther, in this disclosed preferred embodiment, since the reading outof the magnetic information is performed while the film is being woundforwards, it would be acceptable for no reading out of the magneticinformation to be performed while the film was being rewound. Evenfurther, it would also be acceptable to perform reading out of themagnetic information when the film was being rewound as well, so as tocheck the data which was read out against the version thereof which wasread out when the film was being wound forwards.

Film Displacement Mode E

The operational sequence when the story mode is selected is shown inFIGS. 27 through 34. In the step S1601 of the FIG. 27 flow chart, whichis reached from the step S809 of the FIG. 13 flow chart, a decision istaken as to whether or not the story composition mode is currentlyselected, and if in fact it is then the flow of control is transferredto the step S1603, while if the story composition mode is not currentlyselected then the flow of control continues to the step S1602. In thisstep S1602, a decision is taken as to whether or not the story replaymode is currently selected, and if in fact it is then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S1901 of the FIG. 33 flow chart,while if the story replay mode is not currently selected then the flowof control returns to the step S809 of the FIG. 13 flow chart. In thestep S1603, the wind on motor 5 is started and the winding on of thefilm F is commenced, and then the flow of control is transferred to thestep S1608 of the FIG. 28 flow chart.

On the other hand, in the step S1604 of the FIG. 27 flow chart, which isreached from the step S311 of the FIG. 3 flow chart, a decision is takenas to whether or not the story composition mode is currently selected,and if in fact it is then the flow of control is transferred to the stepS1606, while if the story composition mode is not currently selectedthen the flow of control continues to the step S1605. In this stepS1605, a decision is taken as to whether or not the story replay mode iscurrently selected, and if in fact it is then the flow of control istransferred to the step S1903 of the FIG. 33 flow chart, while if thestory replay mode is not currently selected then the flow of controlreturns to the step S311 of the FIG. 3 flow chart. In the step S1606,the title, the narration, etc. for this story are input via theinformation input device 27 and are stored in the information storagedevice 28, and then the flow of control continues to the next stepS1607. In this step S1607, the rewind motor 4 and the wind on motor 5are started and the displacement of the film F is commenced, and thenthe flow of control is transferred to the step S1608 of the FIG. 28 flowchart. In this step S1608, the reading out of magnetic information fromthe film F by the magnetic head 7 and by the magnetic read circuit 17 iscommenced. Next in the step S1609 the magnetic information which hasbeen read out in the previous step S1608 is stored in the informationstorage device 28, and the flow of control proceeds to the next stepS1610. In this step S1610, as shown in FIG. 37(b), a display (the screendisplay B) is provided upon the monitor 29 which says that the film isbeing forwarded and which displays the frame number which designates theportion of the film which is currently closest to the image area 12. Inthe next step S1611 the system loops back to the previous step S1610 soas to continue providing the screen display B, until the first filmframe has arrived to oppose the image area 12; and when the first filmframe is opposed to the image area 12 then the flow of control continuesto the next step S1612. In this step S1612, the storage of the magneticinformation is terminated since now it has all been read in, and theflow of control continues to the next step S1613. In this step S1613,the reading out of the magnetic information is terminated, and the flowof control continues to the next step S1614. In this step S1614, thewind on motor 5 is stopped in this current state with the first filmframe being opposed to the image area 12, and the displacement of thefilm is terminated. And finally the flow of control is transferred tothe step S1701 of the FIG. 29 flow chart.

As shown in FIG. 29, in the step S1701 an image of the film frame whichis currently opposing the image area 12 is output to the monitor 29.Further, the magnetically recorded information upon the film F, theframe number of the film frame which is currently opposed to the imagearea 12, and the like are superimposed by the image control circuit 16and output to the monitor 29 for display. In the next step S1702, theoperator is asked whether or not the film frame which is being displayedis to be used in the story, and if the answer which is input is YES thenthe flow of control continues to the next step S1703, while if theanswer which is input is NO then the flow of control is transferred tothe step S1705. In the step S1703, information for this film frame whichis being displayed is input which specifies its narration, its message,the order in which this frame is to be displayed in the story, and thetime period for which it is to be displayed. And then in the next stepS1704 this information which has been input is stored in the informationstorage device 28. In the step S1705, a decision is taken as to whetheror not an editing switch for the narration etc. is being pressed, and ifit is being pressed the flow of control continues to the step S1706,while if the narration editing switch is not being pressed then the flowof control is transferred to the step S1707. In the step S1706, theframe number of the film frame which is currently opposing the imagearea 12 is stored in the information storage device 28, and the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step 1801 of the FIG. 31 flow chart. Onthe other hand, in the step S1707 of this FIG. 29 flow chart, a decisionis taken as to whether or not a story composition mode terminationswitch is being pressed, and if it is then the flow of control isreturned to the step S801 of the FIG. 12 flow chart, while if this storycomposition mode termination switch is not being pressed then the flowof control is transferred to the step S1708 of the FIG. 30 flow chart.

In this step S1708, a decision is taken as to whether or not the singleframe advance switch is being pressed, and if it is being pressed thenthe flow of control proceeds to the next step S1709, while if the singleframe advance switch is not being pressed then the flow of controlreturns to the step S1705 of the FIG. 29 flow chart. In the step S1709,a decision is taken as to whether or not the film frame which currentlyis positioned to oppose the image area 12 is the last film frame, and ifso then the flow of control proceeds to the next step S1710, while ifthe film frame currently opposing the image area 12 is not the last filmframe then the flow of control is transferred to the step S1711. In thestep S1710, this final film frame is displayed upon the monitor 29, anda warning is emitted for the operator to inform him of mistakenoperation, and then the flow of control returns to the step S1705 of theFIG. 29 flow chart. In the step S1711, the wind on motor 5 is startedand the winding on of the film F is commenced, and then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the next step S1712. In this step S1712, the readingout of magnetic information from the film F by the magnetic head 7 andby the magnetic read circuit 17 is commenced. Next in the step S1713 themagnetic information which has been read out in the previous step S1712is stored in the information storage device 28, and the flow of controlproceeds to the next step S1714. In this step S1714, as shown in FIG.37(b), a display (the screen display B) is provided upon the monitor 29which says that the film is being forwarded and which displays the framenumber which designates the portion of the film which is currentlyclosest to the image area 12. In the next step S1715 the system loopsback to the previous step S1714 so as to continue providing the screendisplay B, until the next film frame has arrived to oppose the imagearea 12; and when the next film frame is opposed to the image area 12then the flow of control continues to the next step S1716. In this stepS1716, the storage of the magnetic information is terminated, and theflow of control continues to the next step S1717. In this step S1717,the reading out of the magnetic information is terminated, and the flowof control continues to the next step S1718. In this step S1718, thewind on motor 5 is stopped in this current state with the next filmframe being opposed to the image area 12, and the displacement of thefilm is terminated. And finally the flow of control is returned to thestep S1701 of the FIG. 29 flow chart.

In the story composition routine whose flow chart has been described inthe above steps S1604 through S1718, along with inputting a title andnarration which are to be affixed to the film cartridge 1 (in the stepS1606), for each film frame separately, narration, the order in which itis to be displayed in sequence, the time period for which it is to bedisplayed, and the like are input (in the step S1703), and all thisinformation is stored in the information storage device 28 (in the stepS1704). Accordingly it is possible to compose and to store any story, asdesired, by lining up the images of the film frames in any desiredorder, and by inserting any desired narration or the like between thefilm frame images. Further, it is also possible to set the time periodsfor display of the images and the narrations and the like as desired, soas to regulate the overall flow of the story.

Referring now to the flow chart of FIG. 31, in the first step S1801 thesystem loops around and waits until a frame number is selected for whichnarration or the like is to be edited, and when such a frame number isselected then the flow of control continues to the step S1802. In thisnext step S1802, the rewind motor 4 and/or the wind on motor 5 isstarted, so as to start displacing the film F. The direction fordisplacement of the film F, i.e. whether the film F is wound forwards oris rewound, depends upon the relative magnitude of the frame number ofthe current film frame which is opposed to the image area 12 at thepresent time, which was stored in the step S1706 of the FIG. 29 flowchart, and the number of the film frame which is selected for editing ofthe like of its narration. In the next step S1803, the reading out ofmagnetic information from the film F by the magnetic head 7 and by themagnetic read circuit 17 is commenced. Next in the step S1804 themagnetic information which has been read out in the previous step S1803is stored in the information storage device 28, and the flow of controlproceeds to the next step S1805. In this step S1805 the screen display Bis provided upon the monitor 29. In the next step S1806 the system loopsback to the previous step S1805 so as to continue providing the screendisplay B, until the designated film frame has arrived to oppose theimage area 12; and when the designated film frame is opposed to theimage area 12 then the flow of control continues to the next step S1807.In this step S1807, the storage of the magnetic information isterminated since now it has all been performed, and the flow of controlcontinues to the next step S1808. In this step S1808, the reading out ofthe magnetic information is terminated, and the flow of controlcontinues to the next step S1809. In this step S1809, the rewind motor 4and/or the wind on motor 5 is stopped in this current state with thedesignated film frame being opposed to the image area 12, and thedisplacement of the film is terminated, and the flow of controlcontinues to the next step S1810. In this step S1810, an image of thefilm frame which is currently positioned to oppose the image area 12 isoutput upon the monitor 29, and at the same time the image controlcircuit 16 also displays the magnetic information for this current filmframe at the image area 12, its frame number, and the like upon themonitor 29 as a legend superimposed upon the film frame display. And inthe next step S1811 the information for this film frame which is beingdisplayed, including its narration, a message, the order in which it isto be displayed in sequence, the time period for which it is to bedisplayed, and the like, is read out from the information storage device28, and the details thereof are displayed upon the monitor 29 as asuperimposed display. Then the flow of control is transferred to thestep S1812 of the FIG. 32 flow chart.

In this step S1812, input of the details of the narration etc. isreceived, and these details are stored in the information storage device28. In the next step S1813, a decision is taken as to whether or not thenarration editing switch is being pressed, and if it is then the flow ofcontrol returns to the step S1801 of the FIG. 31 flow chart, while ifthe narration editing switch is not being pressed then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the next step S1814. In this step S1814, a decisionis taken as to whether or not an editing termination switch is beingpressed, and if it is then the flow of control proceeds to the next stepS1815, while if this editing termination switch is not being pressedthen the flow of control loops back to the step S1813. In the stepS1815, the rewind motor 4 and/or the wind on motor 5 is started, so asto start the displacement of the film F. The direction for displacementof the film F, i.e. whether the film F is wound forwards or is rewound,depends upon the relative magnitude of the frame number of the currentfilm frame which is opposed to the image area 12 and the number of thefilm frame which was stored in the step S1706 of the FIG. 29 flow chart.In the next step S1816 the screen display B is provided upon the monitor29. In the next step S1817 the system loops back to the previous stepS1816 so as to continue providing the screen display B, until the filmframe whose frame number was stored in the step S1706 of the FIG. 29flow chart has arrived to oppose the image area 12; and when this filmframe is opposed to the image area 12 then the flow of control continuesto the next step S1818. In this step S1818, the rewind motor 4 and/orthe wind on motor 5 is stopped in this current state with the film framewhose frame number was stored in the step S1706 of the FIG. 29 flowchart being opposed to the image area 12, and the displacement of thefilm is terminated, and then the flow of control is transferred to thestep S1705 of the FIG. 29 flow chart.

As described above it is possible, in the steps S1801 through S1818, toselect the frame for which the narration etc. is to be edited, and toadd to or change the narration for this selected frame.

In the step S1901 of the FIG. 33 flow chart, the stored information forthe film cartridge 1 which is specified by the cartridge ID which wasstored in the information storage device 28 in the step S303 of the FIG.3 flow chart is read out from the information storage device 28. Thisstored information may comprise, for instance, a title, a narration, theorder in which the film frames should be displayed, and the time periodsfor display of each of the film frame and/or of its narration, which maybe input via the information input device 27 in advance, and informationabout the magnetic recording layer of the film etc.. In the next stepS1902, the rewind motor 4 or the wind on motor 5 is started, so as tostart the displacement of the film F, and then the flow of control istransferred to the step S1905. On the other hand, in the step S1903,just as in the step S1901, the stored information for the film cartridge1 is read out from the information storage device 28, and then in thenext step S1904 the rewind motor 4 and/or the wind on motor 5 isstarted, so as to start the displacement of the film F, and then theflow of control proceeds to the step S1905. The direction fordisplacement of the film F, i.e. whether the film F is wound forwards oris rewound, depends upon the relative magnitude of the frame number ofthe current film frame which is opposed to the image area 12 and thenumber of the first film frame in the story. In the step S1905, thenarration etc. is displayed upon the monitor 29 as shown in FIG. 43(a)(the screen display I). In the next step S1906, the timer is set to zeroand is started so as to count time. In the next step S1907, the systemloops around to wait while the displacement of the film F is continueduntil the film is positioned with the first frame of this story beingopposed to the image area 12, and then the flow of control istransferred to the step S1908 of the FIG. 34 flow chart. During thistime interval until the flow of control reaches the step S1908, thestored narration etc. is displayed in the proper order, according to thesettings which are stored in the information storage device 28.

In the step S1908 of the FIG. 34 flow chart, the rewind motor 4 and/orthe wind on motor 5 is stopped since the specified film frame is nowpositioned as opposed to the image area 12. In the next step S1909, thesystem waits in a loop until the timer has timed a period of ten seconds(for example), and then the flow of control continues to the next stepS1910. In this step S1910, the timer is reset to zero and is restartedso as to start counting time again. And in the next step S1911 an imageof the film frame which is currently opposing the image area 12 isoutput as a first picture signal S1 to the monitor 29. Further, themagnetically recorded information upon the film F, the frame number ofthe film frame which is currently opposed to the image area 12, and thelike are superimposed by the image control circuit 16 and output to themonitor 29 for display. In the next step S1912, the system keeps loopingback to the previous step S1911 until the display time period which wasset for the image of this film frame during the story composition modehas elapsed, thus continuing the display of this film frame, and thenthe flow of control proceeds to the next step S1913. In this step S1913,a decision is taken as to whether or not the film frame which currentlyis positioned as opposed to the image area 12 is the last film frame ofthis story, and if so then the flow of control is returned to the stepS801 of the FIG. 12 flow chart, while if this story has not yetproceeded as far as its last film frame then the flow of controlproceeds to the next step S1914. In this step S1914, the rewind motor 4and/or the wind on motor 5 is started, so as to start the displacementof the film F, and then the flow of control proceeds to the step S1915.The direction for displacement of the film F, i.e. whether the film F iswound forwards or is rewound, depends upon the relative magnitude of theframe number of the current film frame which is opposed to the imagearea 12 and the number of the next film frame which is to appear in thestory. In the next step S1915, the timer is reset to zero and isrestarted so as to start counting time again. In the next step S1916,the narration etc. read out from the information storage device 28 isdisplayed upon the monitor 29 as shown in FIGS. 43(b), (d), and (f) (thescreen display I). And in the final step S1917 a decision is taken as towhether or not the film frame which currently is positioned as opposedto the image area 12 is the next film frame of this story, and if theforwarding of the film has not yet proceeded as far as the next filmframe of this story then the flow of control loops back to this stepS1917 and waits, while when the next story film frame is reached theflow of control returns to the step S1908.

In this manner, in the story replay mode, the film frames and thenarration are replayed in the order and according to the timing whichwere established in the story composition mode. That is to say, thestory is replayed just as it was composed in the story composition mode.

Although the above explanation of this preferred embodiment of thepresent invention was made in terms of using the film frames upon asingle film cartridge for the composition of just one story, it wouldalso be possible to use the film frames upon a single cartridge for thecomposition of a plurality of stories; and, further, it would also bepossible to use the film frames upon a plurality of cartridges for thecomposition of a single story, or indeed of a plurality of stories. Forexample, in the case of using the set of film frames upon a singlecartridge for the composition of a plurality of stories, it would bepossible to arrange for the stories to be told apart by their titles, sothat, in the story replay mode, a list of stories would be displayedwhen reading the ID of the film cartridge, and then the operator wouldbe able to select the desired story by referring to it by its title.

In the case of using the set of film frames upon a plurality ofcartridges for the composition of a single story, when replaying thestory, it would be desirable, for example, to output a display signalrequesting the next cartridge to be loaded after the replaying of eachcartridge has been completed. The complete story can then be replayed inthe proper order by the operator inserting the next cartridge accordingto this request display signal.

The above explanation of the story replay mode of this preferredembodiment of the present invention was made in terms of the displays ofthe title screen, the narration screens, and the frame images beingperformed according to display time periods determined in advance, andof this sequence of displays being automatically performed up to itsvery end. However, it would also be acceptable to provide a pauseswitch, by the use of which the replaying of the story could beinterrupted at any desired time point as required, to be subsequentlyrestarted from this point of interruption. Further, it would also bepossible not simply to perform the display of each of the screens in thestory for a predetermined time period, but instead to provide an advanceswitch and optionally also a backup switch, in which case it would bepossible to step through a story manually, and optionally also to backup within it.

Further, although in the shown preferred embodiment of the film imagesignal generation apparatus of the present invention an internal RAM 28was used as the information storage device, this is not to be consideredas limitative of the present invention; as an alternative, it would alsobe possible to connect this film image signal generation apparatus to apersonal computer or the like, and then to store the informationrelating to a story upon some other recording medium, such as a harddisk, a memory card, a floppy disk, or the like. Further, it would alsobe possible to use a magnetic recording layer upon the film as thestorage medium. For example, it would be possible to store the replayorder of a story in a chained format, in which the title, the initialnarration, and the frame number of the first film frame in the storywere stored upon the leader portion of the film, and subsequently themagnetic recording layer corresponding to each film frame in the storywas used for storage of the title (if any) to be displayed after it, thenarration (if any) to be displayed after it, the frame number of thenext film frame in the story, and the time period for display thereof.With such a system, in the story replay mode it would be possible toreplay a story by reading out this magnetic information in sequence, andthe final replay result would be analogous to that which was obtainedusing the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above.

Yet further, although in the shown preferred embodiment of the filmimage signal generation apparatus of the present invention theinformation input device 27 was provided and was used as the device forinputting the various items of information which were required foralteration to, addition to, or deletion of the magnetic information uponthe film F, and for inputting the narration and the like for the storycomposition mode, this is not to be considered as limitative of thepresent invention; as an alternative, it would also be possible to inputthis information by connecting this film image signal generationapparatus to a personal computer, to an electronic notebook, or thelike. Further, it would also be possible to insert magnetic informationwhich was previously magnetically recorded upon the film or upon thefilm cartridge as titles or narration between the images of the filmframes.

The sequencing process in the story composition mode is not to beconsidered as being limited to that which was shown above with referenceto the preferred embodiment of the present invention; for example, itwould be also acceptable, and desirable, for it to be possible later toedit a story after it has initially been composed. Further, althoughwith reference to the preferred embodiment of the present invention thedescription assumed that in the story composition mode the systemstepped through all the film frames one at a time, and queried theoperator as to whether or not each film frame was to be used in thestory which was being composed, this is not to be considered as beinglimitative of the present invention; it would also be possible, as analternative, for it be arranged for the operator to be able to input theframe numbers of the film frames which he desired to designate to beincluded in the story then he could input their narrations and etc. inthe order of the designated frames. Yet further, in the storycomposition mode, it would also be possible, as another alternative, forit be arranged for the operator to be able to input the frame numbers ofthe film frames which he desired to designate to be included in thestory, along with their display orderg narration, time periods fordisplay, etc., without looking at individual images of the various filmframes, but merely by looking at printed versions of each of the filmframes, or at a matrix display of thumbnail versions thereof.

Although in the shown preferred embodiment of the film image signalgeneration apparatus of the present invention no facilities wereprovided for zooming and/or scrolling the frame image of the film frame,as an additional feature, for example, it would also be possible toarrange for the operator to be able to input, during the composition ofa story, information which specified the scope and/or degree of zoomingand/or scrolling, etc., for each one of the film frames included in thestory. In this case facilities would also be provided for, during thereplaying of this story, the specified scope and/or degree of zoomingand/or scrolling, etc., to be performed automatically for each filmframe. Further, the system is not to be considered as being limited todisplaying a single narration screen between each of the film frameimages in the story; it would also be possible for a plurality ofnarration screens to be interposed between the display of one film frameimage and the display of its successor, and for some film frame imagedisplays to give way directly to their successors, without any narrationscreen being interposed between them. If in this manner no narrationscreen is interposed between two film frame image displays, it would bedesirable to continue the output of the predecessor film frame imagedisplay until its successor is ready to be displayed, by storing thepredecessor film frame image in a memory device.

It would be possible to connect the picture signal output of the filmimage signal generation apparatus of the present invention to a videorecorder or the like, and thereby to record a story which was beingreplayed. In such a case, it would be desirable for the apparatus of thepresent invention to be started automatically upon receipt of arecording start signal from the video recorder, in order to replay thestory for recording thereof.

Film Displacement Mode F

The film displacement mode F is a search mode in which the informationin the magnetic recording layer of the film is read out, and only thosefilm frames for which the corresponding information satisfies certainselected conditions are displayed in order. These certain conditions mayinclude that the film frame is one which was shot using continuousshooting, that it is a film frame which was shot as a series scene, thatit is a film frame which was shot in sports mode, that it is a filmframe which was shot on a particular date or at a particular time, thatit is a film frame which was shot in relation to a particular event, orthat it is a film frame which was shot using a particular focaldistance. In this connection, the attribute of being a series scenemeans that this film frame was one of a series which were shot underidentical photographic conditions (aperture, shutter speed, etc.), whilethe attribute of being shot in sports mode means that this film framewas shot under photographic conditions appropriate for shooting sportsscenes (high speed events); and these are attributes which are under thecontrol of the photographer, and their occurrence is recorded in themagnetic recording layer at the time of photography. Further, theattributes of shooting date, particular event (sports meeting,university entrance ceremony, Christmas, birthday, etc., as well asindividual name, place name, etc.), focal distance (how much zooming wasutilized, etc.) and the like are also recorded in the magnetic recordinglayer at the time of photography.

In this preferred embodiment of the film image signal generationapparatus of the present invention, the film displacement mode F isfurther controlled according to three different sequences. When the filmdisplacement mode F is selected, one of these three sequences isexecuted. In the following, the explanation will be made as though theflow of control was independent for the purposes of convenience of theexplanation. Of course it would also be acceptable, in the controlprocess shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, for the flow of control to branch tothe film displacement mode F which has the following explanation.

The above mentioned three sequences are: (1) the sequence shown from thestep S3101 to the step S3121 in FIGS. 46 and 47; (2) the sequence shownfrom the step S3201 to the step S3222 in FIGS. 48 through 50; and (3)the sequence shown from the step S3301 to the step S3319 in FIGS. 51 and52.

According to the sequence shown from the step S3101 to the step S3121 inFIGS. 46 and 47 (the above mentioned control sequence (1)), thefollowing control is performed. In the step S3101 of the FIG. 46 flowchart the wind on motor 5 is started so as to commence winding on thefilm F, and the film forwarding stops when the first film frame has beenbrought to oppose the image area 12. In the next step S3102, the imagedata of the film frame which is opposing the image area 12 is read inand is stored in the information storage device 28. In the next stepS3103, the system waits for 5 seconds before again starting theforwarding of the film F, and also the information which is stored inthe magnetic recording layer of the film F in correspondence to the filmframe which was brought to oppose the image area 12 in the step S3101 isread in and is stored in the information storage device 28. Then in thenext step S3104 a decision is taken as to whether or not the film framewhich is currently opposing the image area 12 is the last film frame,and if not then the flow of control loops back to the step S3101 tobring the next film frame to oppose the image area 12; while, if in thisstep S3104 it is decided that the film frame which is currently opposingthe image area 12 is indeed the last film frame, then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to the next step S3105, in which the forwarding of thefilm is stopped. And then in the next step S3106 an image of the finalfilm frame is output, and the flow of control continues to the stepS3107 of the FIG. 47 flow chart. With the above described steps S3101through S3106, along with forwarding the film F stepwise past the imagearea 12 from the first film frame to the last film frame at intervals ofabout 5 seconds, the information in the magnetic recording layer uponthe film F for all of the film frames, and also images of all of thefilm frames, are stored in the information storage device 28. Moreover,although the details of the explanation of the above steps have beensomewhat curtailed in the interests of brevity of description, theycorrespond to the steps S701 through S714 described above of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, relating to the film advancement modeD.

In the step S3107 of the FIG. 47 flow chart, a decision is taken as towhether a search switch is on or off, and if this search switch is offthen the flow of control continues to the next step S3108, while if thesearch switch is on then the flow of control is transferred to the stepS3109. In the step S3108, a decision is taken as to whether or not anyother film displacement mode switch is on, and if so then the controlflow of this routine for version (1) of the film displacement mode F isterminated, while if no other film displacement mode switch is on thenthe flow of control returns to the step S3107. In each of the stepsS3109 through S3114, if a decision is taken that any one of theselection conditions for the film frames in relation to each ofcontinuous shooting, series scene, sports mode, date and/or time, event,and focal distance is input or set, then the flow of control istransferred to the step S3116, while if a decision is taken that none ofthese selection conditions is input or set then the flow of controlreturns to the step S3107. In the step S3116, a decision is taken as towhether or not any film frames exist which satisfy the conditions ofselection, and if no such film frames exist then the flow of controlreturns to the step S3109, while if such film frames exist then the flowof control proceeds to the step S3117, in which these film frames aretaken as the selected film frames. In the next step S3118, the totalnumber of selected film frames and a list of their frame numbers aredisplayed. Next, in the step S3119, the images of the selected filmframes are read out from the information storage device 28 and aredisplayed in sequence according to a predetermined order. Then, after inthe step S3120 an image of the last film frame for display (the finalselected film frame) has been displayed, in the last step S3121 amessage is displayed to the effect that the search has concluded, andthe flow of control returns to the step S3107. In this manner, in thesteps S3107 through S3121, the frame images stored in the informationstorage device 28 for the film frames (the selected film frames) whichsatisfy the conditions for selection are displayed in order.

According to the sequence shown from the step S3201 to the step S3222 inFIGS. 48 through 50 (the above mentioned control sequence (2)), thefollowing control is performed. In the first step S3201 of the FIG. 48flow chart, the rewind motor 4 and/or the wind on motor 5 is started soas to commence winding on the film F. In the next step S3202, theinformation in the magnetic recording layer for each frame of the filmis read in and is stored in the information storage device 28. In thenext step S3203 the system loops back to the first step S3201 until thelast film frame comes to oppose the image area 12, and when the lastfilm frame is reached then the flow of control continues to the nextstep S3204. In this step S3204, the winding on of the film F is stopped.And in the next step S3205 an image of the last film frame is displayedupon the monitor 29. With the above described steps S3201 through S3205,the information in the magnetic recording layer upon the film F for allof the film frames is stored in the information storage device 28, butin this case (2), as opposed to the previous case (1), no images of anyof the film frames are stored.

In the step S3206 of the FIG. 49 flow chart, a decision is taken as towhether a search switch is on or off, and if this search switch is offthen the flow of control continues to the next step S3207, while if thesearch switch is on then the flow of control is transferred to the stepS3208. In the step S3207, a decision is taken as to whether or not anyother film displacement mode switch is on, and if so then the controlflow of this routine for version (2) of the film displacement mode F isterminated, while if no other film displacement mode switch is on thenthe flow of control returns to the step S3206. In each of the stepsS3208 through S3213, if a decision is taken that any one of theselection conditions for the film frames in relation to each ofcontinuous shooting, series scene, sports mode, date and/or time, event,and focal distance is input or set, then the flow of control istransferred to the step S3214 of the FIG. 50 flow chart, while if adecision is taken that none of these selection conditions is input orset then the flow of control returns to the step S3206 of this FIG. 49flow chart. In this step S3214 of the FIG. 50 flow chart, a decision istaken as to whether or not any film frames exist which satisfy theconditions of selection, and if no such film frames exist then the flowof control returns to the step S3208 of the previous FIG. 49 flow chart,while if such film frames exist then the flow of control proceeds to thestep S3215, in which these film frames are taken as the selected filmframes. In the next step S3216, the total number of selected film framesand a list of their frame numbers are displayed. Next, in the stepS3217, the film F is displaced and the first film frame for display (thefirst searched film frame) from the set of selected film frames isbrought to oppose the image area 12; and then in the subsequent stepS3218 an image of this film frame is displayed. In the step S3219 thefilm frame image which is being displayed is stored in the informationstorage device 28, and in the next step S3220 a decision is taken as towhether or not the last film frame for display (the last searched filmframe) from the set of selected film frames is currently positioned tooppose the image area 12, and if it is then the flow of control istransferred to the step S3222, while if the last film frame for displayhas not yet arrived at the image area 12 then the flow of controlcontinues to the next step S3221, in which the film F is displaced andthe next film frame for display (the next searched film frame) from theset of selected film frames is brought to oppose the image area 12; andthen the flow of control is returned to the step S3218. And in the laststep S3222 a message is displayed to the effect that the search hasconcluded, and the flow of control returns to the step S3206 of the FIG.49 flow chart. In this manner, in the steps S3206 through S3221 the filmframes (the selected film frames) which satisfy the conditions forselection are brought in order from the first searched film frame to thelast searched film frame to oppose the image area 12, and images thereofare displayed.

According to the sequence shown from the step S3301 to the step S3319 inFIGS. 51 and 52 (the above mentioned control sequence (3)), thefollowing control is performed. In the step S3301 of the FIG. 51 flowchart, a decision is taken as to whether a search switch is on or off,and if this search switch is off then the flow of control continues tothe next step S3302, while if the search switch is on then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to the step S3303. In the step S3302, a decisionis taken as to whether or not any other film displacement mode switch ison, and if so then the control flow of this routine for version (3) ofthe film displacement mode F is terminated, while if no other filmdisplacement mode switch is on then the flow of control returns to thestep S3301. In each of the steps S3303 through S3308, if a decision istaken that any one of the selection conditions for the film frames inrelation to each of continuous shooting, series scene, sports mode, dateand/or time, event, and focal distance is set, then the flow of controlis transferred to the step S3309 of the FIG. 52 flow chart, while if adecision is taken that none of these selection conditions is set thenthe flow of control returns to the step S3301. In the step S3309 of theFIG. 52 flow chart, a decision is taken as to whether or not theinformation for each film frame relating to continuous shooting and thelike which is recorded in the magnetic recording layer has already beenread out and stored, and as to whether or not images of these filmframes have already been stored; and if so then the flow of controlproceeds to the step S3310, while if not then the flow of control istransferred to the step S3313. In the step S3310, the film frames whichare to be displayed (the selected film frames) are selected, and in thenext step S3311 images of the selected film frames which are stored inthe information storage device 28 are displayed in order. In the nextstep S3312 a message is displayed to the effect that the search hasconcluded, and the flow of control returns to the step S3301 of the FIG.51 flow chart. On the other hand, in the step S3313 the forwarding ofthe film is started, and then in the next step S3314 the information inthe magnetic recording layer of the film for the film frame whichcurrently is opposing the image area 12 is read out. In the next stepS3315 a decision is taken, based upon the information read in in theprevious step S3314, as to whether or not this film frame whichcurrently is opposing the image area 12 satisfies the conditions ofselection, and if in fact this film frame is one which ought to bedisplayed (is one of the selected film frames) then the flow of controlis transferred to the step S3317, while if this is not a selected filmframe then the flow of control continues to the step S3316. In the stepS3316, a decision is made as to whether or not this film frame whichcurrently is opposing the image area 12 is the last film frame whichshould be displayed (the last searched film frame), and if it is thelast searched film frame then the flow of control is transferred to thestep S3312, while if it is not the last searched film frame then theflow of control returns to the step S3313. In the step S3317 theforwarding of the film F is stopped, and the flow of control proceeds tothe step S3318. In this step S3318 an image of the film frame whichcurrently is opposing the image area 12 is displayed, and next in thestep S3319 this image is stored in the information storage device 28 andthe flow of control returns to the step S3313. In this manner, in thesequence of the steps S3301 through S3319, after the film displacementmode F has been entered, the required information can be read in fromthe magnetic recording layer of the film (in the step S3314).

Although the film displacement mode F has been explained in terms of theabove described three different sequences, it should not be consideredas being particularly limited to these three sequences. For example,although with the above described preferred embodiment of the film imagesignal generation device of the present invention the film frame imageswere displayed in order at predetermined intervals (stepwiseforwarding), the present invention should not be considered as beinglimited by the shown order of display, or by the shown timing. It wouldalso be acceptable, as an alternative, for the operator to be enabled todesignate the next film frame display. Further, although with thesequence described with reference to the steps S3101 through S3121images of all of the film frames were stored, it would also beacceptable, as an alternatives only to display images for those of thefilm frames which already had been stored. In such a case, it would alsobe desirable to display a listing of those film frames which already hadbeen stored.

What is claimed is:
 1. A film image signal generation apparatus,comprising:a film displacement device which displaces a developed filmwhich has a magnetic recording layer to an image area; an image signalconversion device which converts an image of a film frame which isopposed to said image area into a first image signal; a magnetic writingdevice which rewrites old data written in said magnetic recording layerof said film into new data; a data storage circuit which stores said olddata and said new data; an image signal generation circuit whichgenerates a second image signal which shows data change information,based upon said old data and said new data which are stored by said datastorage circuit; and a control circuit which controls said magneticwriting device, said data storage circuit, and said film displacementdevice so as to rewrite said old data which is recorded upon saidmagnetic recording layer into said new data which was previouslygenerated and is stored in said storage circuit, and controls said imagesignal conversion device and said image signal generation circuit so asto output said second image signal at a predetermined time which isdifferent from a time when said new data is being generated.
 2. A filmimage signal generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:said olddata and said new data each relate to a single film frame; and saidcontrol circuit controls said magnetic writing device, said data storagecircuit, and said film displacement device so as to rewrite said olddata which is recorded upon said magnetic recording layer into said newdata which is stored in said data storage circuit one frame by oneframe, and before each rewriting one frame by one frame, controls saidimage signal conversion device and said image signal generation circuitso as to output said second image signal without outputting said firstimage signal.
 3. A film image signal generation apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprisinga verify switch which can be operated toaccept or to reject data rewriting by said magnetic writing device,wherein said control device controls said magnetic writing device, saiddata storage circuit, said film displacement device, said image signalconversion device, and said image signal generation circuit so as todisplay said second image signal, and so as then to write said new dataonto said magnetic recording layer of said film only when said verifyswitch is operated to accept data rewriting by said magnetic writingdevice.
 4. A film image signal generation apparatus according to claim1, wherein,when a certain film frame for which a related data in saidmagnetic recording layer of said film is to be rewritten is opposed tosaid image area, said control circuit controls said image signalconversion device and said image signal generation circuit so as tooutput an image signal of a display superimposing an image of saidcertain film frame and data change information relating to said certainfilm frame based upon said first image signal and said second imagesignal.
 5. A film image signal generation apparatus according to claim2, whereinsaid control circuit controls said image signal conversiondevice and said image signal generation circuit so as to output saidsecond image signal without outputting said first image signal duringrewriting of said old data into said new data one frame by one frame. 6.A film image signal generation apparatus according to claim 2,whereinsaid second image signal is a signal which shows data changeinformation based upon said old data and said new data related to a nextfilm frame for which rewriting is to be performed.
 7. A film imagesignal generation apparatus according to claim 2, whereinsaid secondimage signal is a signal which shows a frame number of a next film framefor which rewriting is to be performed and said new data related to saidnext film frame.
 8. A film image signal generation apparatus accordingto claim 2, whereinsaid second image signal is a signal which shows datachange information based upon said old data and said new data related toone or more film frames for which data rewriting has not yet beenperformed.
 9. A film image signal generation apparatus according toclaim 2, whereinsaid second image signal is a signal which shows a listin which frame numbers and said new data of one or more film frames, forwhich data rewriting has not yet been performed, is arranged.
 10. A filmimage signal generation apparatus according to claim 2, whereinsaidsecond image signal is a signal which shows a list in which framenumbers and said new data of one or more film frames, for which datarewriting has not yet been performed, is arranged, with a frame numberof a frame for which data rewriting is next to be performed being shownas flashing.
 11. A film image signal generation apparatus, comprising:afilm displacement device which displaces a developed film which has amagnetic recording layer to an image area; an image signal conversiondevice which converts an image of a film frame which is opposed to saidimage area into a first image signal; a magnetic writing device whichrewrites old data written in said magnetic recording layer of said filminto new data; a data storage circuit which stores said old data andsaid new data; an image signal generation circuit which generates asecond image signal which shows data change information, based upon saidold data and said new data which are stored by said data storagecircuit; and a control circuit which controls said magnetic writingdevice, said data storage circuit, and said film displacement device soas to rewrite said old data which is recorded upon said magneticrecording layer into said new data which was previously generated and isstored in said storage circuit, and controls said image signalconversion device and said image signal generation circuit so as tooutput said second image signal at a predetermined time which isdifferent from a time when said new data is being generated during arewriting operation of said magnetic recording layer.